pilfer
verb (used with or without object)
to steal, especially in small quantities.
was pilfering
-
past progressiveof pilfer.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“There was no other possible conclusion to draw from this. It was what it seemed to be - that the British Museum curator was pilfering his own museum,” says Dr Gradel.
From BBC ● May 27, 2024
When a frozen-food distributor called in Devine to find out who was pilfering $1,000 worth of food each month, the losses stopped immediately.
From Time Magazine Archive
All she seemed to care about as her reward was pilfering, and a crown put into her hand, gave her less pleasure than a halfpenny which she had stolen.
From The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4 by Guy de Maupassant
One thief succeeded another, and in 1839 Jack Sheppard was pilfering his way through "Bentley's Miscellany."
From George Cruikshank by W. H. Chesson
