Rob Meaning
/ɹɔb/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo steal from, especially using force or violence.
verbTo deprive of, or withhold from, unjustly or injuriously; to defraud.
Sentence Examples
As these trees grow tall, they rob the grass of light.
They rob, and furthermore cheat each other.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The thief tried to ____ the bank by breaking into the vault at night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The thieves attempted to ____ the bank in broad daylight but were caught before they could escape.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English robben, from Anglo-Norman robber, from Late Latin raubāre, from Frankish *raubōn (compare Dutch roven) and Old High German roubōn, raubōn (“to rob, steal, plunder”), from Proto-Germanic *raubōną. Doublet of reave.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I never robbed the soldiers of their pay."
— 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]:
"Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence. She devoured with more avidity than she had her food those pretentiously phrased chronicles of the snobocracy—[…]—distilling therefrom an acid envy that robbed her napoleon of all its flavor."
— 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter I (Anarchy), page 373, column 2:
"The railway is still vital to Jordan's export trade, but in spite of the poor quality of the road, diesel lorries are gradually robbing it of freight traffic, and anyone who can afford to fly does so rather than face the long desert journey by rail."
— 1956 March, R. C. Blaker, “The Hedjaz Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 167:
"Her house was robbed."
— 2008 September 4, National Public Radio, All Things Considered:
"Kevin Mirallas then robbed Bacary Sagna to run into the area and draw another save from Szczesny as the Gunners held on to lead at the break."
— 2011 September 28, Tom Rostance, “Arsenal 2-1 Olympiakos”, in BBC Sport:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The thief tried to ____ the bank by breaking into the vault at night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The thieves attempted to ____ the bank in broad daylight but were caught before they could escape.