Learn about the difference between the homophones: steal and steel

Definitions

steal

Steal is a verb that means to take something without permission or right, especially secretly or by force.

Example

Someone stole my phone from my pocket.

Example

He was caught trying to steal a car.

steel

Steel is a noun that refers to a hard, strong, gray or bluish-gray alloy of iron with carbon and usually other elements, used extensively as a structural and fabricating material.

Example

The building's frame was made of steel.

Example

The knife was made of high-quality steel.

Tips To Remember the Differences

Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:

- To remember the difference between these two words, think of steal as taking something that doesn't belong to you, while steel is a strong metal used in construction and manufacturing. - You could also associate steal with the letter 'A' for 'appropriation' and steel with the letter 'E' for 'engineering'.