robbed; robbing

transitive verb

1
a(1)
: to take something away from by force : steal from
(2)
: to take personal property from by violence or threat
b(1)
: to remove valuables without right from (a place)
(2)
: to take the contents of (a receptacle)
c
: to take away as loot : steal
rob jewelry
2
a
: to deprive of something due, expected, or desired
b
: to withhold unjustly or injuriously

intransitive verb

: to commit robbery
robber noun
Can rob mean 'to steal'?: Usage Guide

Transitive sense 1c, in which the direct object is the thing stolen, is sometimes considered to be wrong, or perhaps archaic. The sense has been in use since the 13th century and is found in earlier literature.

contrive to rob the honey and subvert the hive John Dryden

It is still in use though not as common as other senses.

then robbed $100 after the clerk fled Springfield (Massachusetts) Morning Union

Examples of rob in a Sentence

Someone tried to rob me. The cashier was robbed at gunpoint.
Recent Examples on the Web The incident unfolded Saturday evening on West Adams Boulevard, where police said a 21-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint while parked at a gas station. Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2024 Pollard was recruited by the Garda worker, who is accused of pretending to be robbed, according to authorities. Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 27 June 2024 Biden’s phobia of fiscal responsibility has piled the nation’s debt higher and deeper robbing the young of their American dream and us all of democracy. Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2024 When Afzal arrived, the two men got in the backseat, pulled a gun, and tried to rob him. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 22 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for rob 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rob.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English robben, from Anglo-French rober, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German roubōn to rob — more at reave

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of rob was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near rob

Cite this Entry

“Rob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rob. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

rob

verb
robbed; robbing
1
a
: to take something away from a person or place in secrecy or by force, threat, or trickery
b
: to take away as loot : steal
2
: to keep from getting something due, expected, or desired
robber noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rob

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