robbed; robbing
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
: 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
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
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
Access to justice too (something often underrated), where you can’t be killed or robbed with impunity, and where you won’t be arbitrarily deprived of your liberty or your freedom of speech by a despotic government.
—Simon Boas
july 23, Literary Hub, 23 July 2025
Check out this song parody from last night's show: Mike Johnson Delays House Epstein Vote Until September
Julio González Jr., released last week from the Terrorism Confinement Center, said he was beaten, robbed of thousands of dollars and denied a lawyer.
—Bluesky Social, 23 July 2025
Fight censorship and don’t let the dark force rob us of ambition and promise.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2025
My father never got to speak for himself because his health robbed him of that chance.
—Rance Collins, IndieWire, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rob
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Simon Boas
july 23, Literary Hub, 23 July 2025
Check out this song parody from last night's show: Mike Johnson Delays House Epstein Vote Until September
Julio González Jr., released last week from the Terrorism Confinement Center, said he was beaten, robbed of thousands of dollars and denied a lawyer.
—Bluesky Social, 23 July 2025
Fight censorship and don’t let the dark force rob us of ambition and promise.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2025
My father never got to speak for himself because his health robbed him of that chance.
—Rance Collins, IndieWire, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rob
Cite this Entry
“Rob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rob. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share