What does burglarizing mean?
Burglarizing is the progressive form of the verb burglarize, meaning to enter a building illegally with the intention of stealing something. It is used chiefly in American English, where burglarize is the standard verb for this act; British English typically uses burgle instead. The word appears most often in news reporting and police accounts — for example, describing suspects caught burglarizing homes, offices, or vacant properties. Legally, burglary is distinguished from related crimes: it involves unlawful entry into a structure, whereas robbery entails taking property directly from a person by force or threat. The noun behind the verb traces back through Latin burgus (a fortified place) and Old French, entering English via Anglo-Latin burgator. Burglarizing carries an unambiguously criminal connotation and is rarely used figuratively, keeping its meaning tightly anchored to breaking-and-entering for theft.
verb (present participle of burglarize)Burglarizing is the present participle (progressive form) of burglarize, meaning to enter a building illegally in order to steal from it.
- To break into and enter a building with intent to commit theft.
"Police arrested two men who had been burglarizing vacant homes along the coast."
"The neighbors called the police when they saw someone burglarizing the empty house next door."
"He admitted to burglarizing several offices downtown over a period of months."
Americans say "burglarized," Brits say "burgled" — same crime, but one version sounds like it was named by a cartoon villain.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of burglarizing
The underlying verb burglarize derives from burglar, which entered English from Anglo-Latin forms such as burgator, ultimately connected to Late Latin burgus, meaning a fortified house or small fort. The agent noun burglar gave rise to the verb burglarize in American English, while Britain developed the shorter back-formation burgle. The suffix -ing here simply marks the present participle of burglarize, so burglarizing shares the same origin as burglary and burglar rather than having a separate etymology.
How burglarizing is actually used
The verb is "burglarize"; this word is its progressive form, used mainly in American English. British English prefers "burgle" (and thus "burgling"). Some style guides consider "burglarize" awkward, but it is fully established and legal usage in the US. Note that burglary legally involves illegal entry into a building — unlike simple theft or robbery, no force against a person need be involved.
Easily confused with burglarizing
"Burglarize" refers to entering a building to steal, whereas "rob" typically means taking property directly from a person or place by force or threat; there is no standard word "robberying," and confusion arises mainly between the verbs rob and burgle/burglarize.