heist

[ hahyst ]

noun

1. a robbery or holdup:

   Four men were involved in the armored car heist.

verb (used with object)

1. to take unlawfully, especially in a robbery or holdup; steal:

   to heist a million dollars' worth of jewels.

2. to rob or hold up.

heist

/ haɪst /

noun

1. a robbery

verb

1. tr to steal or burgle

Derived Forms

• ˈheister, noun

Other Words From

• heister noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heist¹

1925–30, Americanism; alteration of hoist

Word History and Origins

Origin of heist¹

variant of hoist

Example Sentences

So Silveti gathered a team of trusted DFS agents and his secretary, Estela, to plan the heist.

From MIT Technology Review

In the first episode, Diop hatches an elaborate plot to steal a necklace that belonged to Marie Antoinette from the Louvre—and the heists only get more innovative from there.

From Quartz

Two of Netflix’s three most popular original series ever are heist dramas.

From Quartz

Scammers will profit from crisis and confusion, especially if the heist is easy and risks are minimal.

From MIT Technology Review

Although he is imprisoned, he ultimately escapes before standing trial and goes on to pull off many other colorful heists.

From Ars Technica

Return fraud has been called the invisible heist—or “de-shopping.”

From The Daily Beast

Two gunmen pulled off a daylight heist in the Diamond District and evaded every single cop.

From The Daily Beast

He had his team practice the bank heist over and over, throwing in various possibilities and forecasting alternative measures.

From The Daily Beast

What had started as a simple heist had now become a hostage crisis and for the next 14 hours.

From The Daily Beast

The game ended with a Portuguese heist, but it began with an American gift.

From The Daily Beast

As Will made his daring plunge Josh Heist on rushed to the side, and stood with starting eyes gazing at the disturbed water.

From Project Gutenberg

But apparently the job was a genuine heist, not a cover-up for something else.

From Project Gutenberg

Van der Heist and Frans Hals are sinking to the level of gifted amateurs.

From Project Gutenberg

Ef he should bother us I kin heist him on my back, easy enuf.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• break in
• caper
• holdup
• larceny
• theft