English · Common Verbs
stealing
/ˈstiːlɪŋ/
[/ˈstiːlɪŋ/]
present participle of steal
Beginnerverb
Definition
Present participle of 'steal': taking something without permission, happening now.
Example
The guard caught the man stealing fruit and quietly asked him to put it all back.
The guard caught the man stealing fruit and quietly asked him to put it all back.
Etymology
From Old English 'stelan' (to steal) plus the '-ing' ending.
How & Where It’s Used
Used in continuous tenses; can also be a noun meaning the act of theft.