How do you use the word "thief" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "thief": Surprisingly enough, he turned out to be a thief. The thief forced her to hand over the money.

Thief Meaning

/ˈθiːf/

Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounOne who carries out a theft.

nounOne who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or violence.

Sentence Examples

Surprisingly enough, he turned out to be a thief.

The thief forced her to hand over the money.

CEFR Practice Quiz

The ____ climbed out the window after taking the expensive watch from the bedroom.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The police managed to catch the ____ who had stolen several high-value items from the jewelry shop today.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English thef, theef, þef, from Old English þēof, from Proto-West Germanic *þeub, from Proto-Germanic *þeubaz.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"water-thieves and land-thieves" — c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:

"Take heed to false harlots, and more, ye wot what. / If noise ye heare, / Looke all be cleare: / Least drabs doe noie thee, / And theeues destroie thee." — 1878, Thomas Tusser, “74. A Digression.”, in Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. […], London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., […], →OCLC; republished as W[illiam] Payne, Sidney J[ohn Hervon] Herrtage, editors, Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. […], London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., […], 1878, →OCLC, stanza 4, page 166:

"But hear you, my Worthy Brethren: do not you, where you see a thief in the candle, call presently for an extinguisher[…]" — 1640, Joseph Hall, Divine Light:

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