What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
poach
Example
I'm going to poach some eggs for breakfast. [poach: verb]
Example
The game warden arrested the hunters for poaching deer on private land. [poaching: gerund or present participle]
steal
Example
He stole my wallet while I wasn't looking. [stole: past tense]
Example
The artist was accused of stealing the design from another artist. [stealing: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Steal is more commonly used than poach in everyday language. Steal is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while poach is less common and refers to specific situations such as cooking, hunting, or recruiting.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between poach and steal?
Both poach and steal can be used in formal and informal contexts, but steal is more likely to be used in casual conversation while poach is more likely to be used in professional or specialized contexts.
