noun
heist
hyst
noun
1
A robbery, especially a carefully planned one targeting a bank, museum, or similar institution.
"The gang spent months planning the diamond heist."
"Police recovered most of the cash stolen in the heist."
2
A movie or story genre built around the planning and execution of a robbery.
"He loves heist films where the crew's plan unravels at the last second."
verb
1
To steal or rob, especially in a bold or organized way.
"They heisted a truckload of electronics from the warehouse."
How to Use Heist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big, often elaborately planned robbery — or, as a verb, to carry one out.
Common pairings
pull off a heist
a bank heist
heist movie
plan a heist
Word Forms
heisted past tense, heists plural, Heists plural, heists singular
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The gang spent months planning the diamond _____.
Etymology
Probably a dialect pronunciation of "hoist" — originally underworld slang for stealing or shoplifting.