steal

Beginner ⚽ Sports / Fitness

Definition

In sports (especially basketball and hockey), a defensive play where you intercept the ball or puck directly from your opponent's possession—basically the athletic equivalent of pickpocketing with better intentions and more witnesses.

Example Usage

LeBron's steal and layup on the fast break completely shifted the momentum of the game.

Source: Sports terminology; basketball and hockey jargon

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See “steal” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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