looting

/ˈluːtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈluːtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)

looting — noun

1. the act of taking goods from shops, houses, or other buildings by force while a

1.名詞B2
釋義

the act of taking goods from shops, houses, or other buildings by force while a city or area is in a state of chaos — typically during events such as riots, armed conflict, natural disasters, or widespread protests where normal law enforcement has broken down

例句

After the earthquake, the police struggled to stop widespread looting in the damaged shopping district.

collocation: widespread looting

A shopkeeper boarded up the windows, fearing looting as protests grew louder outside.

同義詞
  • plundering

    more formal and literary; suggests systematic, large-scale theft, often in war

  • pillaging

    strongly associated with war and invading armies; less common for civilian riots

  • raiding

    implies targeted, fast theft from a specific place, not widespread chaos

反義詞
  • protection

    the act of keeping property safe from harm or theft

文法句型

looting + of + (location)

adjective + looting

用法筆記

Unlike 'theft' or 'robbery', looting specifically implies a breakdown of public order — laws are temporarily unenforced, and large groups take advantage of the situation. The word is uncountable, so it is not used with 'a' or 'an' and has no plural form.

常見錯誤

❌There was a looting at the mall last night.
✅There was looting at the mall last night.
💡Looting is uncountable; do not use 'a' or 'an' before it.
❌The lootings happened in three different cities.
✅Looting happened in three different cities.' or 'Three separate incidents of looting happened.
💡Looting has no plural form.