“Steal” or “Steel”—Which to use?

“Steal” or “Steel”

Overview

steal / steel are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

steal: (noun) a stolen base; an instance in which a base runner advances safely during the delivery of a pitch (without the help of a hit or walk or passed ball or wild pitch). (verb) take without the owner's consent. (verb) move stealthily. (verb) steal a base.

steel: (noun) an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range. (noun) knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod. (verb) get ready for something difficult or unpleasant. (verb) cover, plate, or edge with steel.

Pronunciation

steal: s·t·IY·l

steel: s·t·IY·l

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Examples in Context

Examples of “steal”

…warn potential plagiarists not to steal content.
…Metallikats turn on Pastmaster and steal his watch.
…Space Squad while attempting to steal the Rashinban Kyutama, she is…
…enough distraction for Dana to steal the bomb control key and…
…her mentor Tsurukiku captive to steal the four Neo Kyutama being…
…later appearing on Len's hit "Steal My Sunshine".
…police cruiser and attempts to steal a shotgun but is caught…
We'd fake a steal home and rattle the pitcher…
He encouraged them to steal from non-Muslims in order to…
…podiums can buzz in and steal control.

Examples of “steel”

…from a ship using a steel cable.
…facility abroad by the International Steel and Metal Corporation.
…of over 180 tons of steel and cost over $1 million.
…created from of concrete and steel, and stood high and long.
…wellhead by using ram-types employing steel cut off rams to seal…
…of two fingers in a steel factory.
…Gilbert "The Erector / Structural Steel & Electro-Mechanical Builder".
Steel gets airsick and ends up…
…strong fabric stretched over a steel frame using many coiled springs…
Steel was later dropped by season

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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