burglarize

verb

bur·​glar·​ize ˈbər-glə-ˌrīz 

 also  ˈbər-gə-lə-

burglarized; burglarizing

transitive verb

1

: to break into and steal from

burglarize a house

2

: to commit burglary against

intransitive verb

: to commit burglary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a difference between burglarize and rob?

To burglarize is "to break into and enter of a building with the intent to commit a crime, often theft," whereas rob means " to take personal property from by violence or threat." Burglary need not entail violence or threat, and robbery need not entail breaking into a dwelling.

Is the verb form of burglary, burgle or burglarize?

The verb form of burglary can be either burglarize or burgle. "Burglarize," like many verb forms, is made by adding the suffix -ize, and this form is more common in American English. Burgle is a back-formation (a word formed by subtraction of a real or supposed affix from an already existing longer word), and is more common in British English. Both are widely accepted as correct.

Is burglarized a real word?

Yes, it is, and so is burgle. While both variants of the verb, burgle and burglarize, have been disparaged since they entered the language in the middle of the 19th century, both are real words, and both have come to be widely accepted.

Synonyms

• break in
• burgle

Examples of burglarize in a Sentence

the Watergate scandal began when Republican operatives burglarized the Democratic Party's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

before they were caught, the thieves had burglarized dozens of houses around the city

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite Hnath’s home having been burglarized weeks earlier, Breisch is only being charged with the burglary from the day of the murder. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 18 May 2024

Authorities have arrested four suspects on charges of burglarizing a cannabis dispensary in Union City last January, but say there are still nine other suspects who have yet to face the music. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024

According to police, Dawson is suspected of giving the victim a ride home around 2:30 a.m. May 5 before breaking into her residence, burglarizing it and assaulting her. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024

Police in Culpeper, Virginia, say the men were among a crew of five thieves who burglarized the Merchants Grocery Company on March 23. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 8 May 2024

Her Encino home was burglarized in late 2017, with over $1 million in jewels and designer purses stolen. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024

The police at that point charged Trotta for burglarizing a home and an antiques exchange in Pennsylvania. —Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024

Oakland Police said the arrests were result of a joint investigation after a nearby Oakland maritime business was burglarized in mid-March. —Will McCarthy, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024

A week later, he was involved in burglarizing a UPS facility in Vineland, New Jersey, where packages with electronics worth $87,741 were stolen, the information says. —Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

burglarize

verb

bur·​glar·​ize ˈbər-glə-ˌrīz 

burglarized; burglarizing

: to break into and steal from

burglarize a house

Legal Definition

burglarize

transitive verb

bur·​glar·​ize ˈbər-glə-ˌrīz 

burglarized; burglarizing

: to commit a burglary at

burglarized the apartment