steal
verb (used with object)
to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right, especially secretly or by force.
has been stealing
-
present perfect progressiveof steal (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Apple alleges in its new suit that “at every level…OpenAI has been stealing Apple’s trade secrets.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
But at ParalympicsGB House in the mountains of Cortina, one "very good girl" has been stealing the spotlight.
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026
“Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has been telling lies,” Ohtani said.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 11, 2024
“Everyone has known that Tom has been stealing money for years,” Chicago lawyer Jay Edelson quoted Finnerty as telling him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2022
Tell Donner that his trusted employee has been stealing from him all these years?
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
