displace

verb

dis·​place (ˌ)dis-ˈplās How to pronounce displace (audio)
di-ˈsplās
displaced; displacing; displaces

transitive verb

1
a
: to remove from the usual or proper place
specifically : to expel or force to flee from home or homeland
displaced persons
b
: to remove from an office, status, or job
c
obsolete : to drive out : banish
2
a
: to move physically out of position
a floating object displaces water
b
: to take the place of (as in a chemical reaction) : supplant
displaceable adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for displace

replace, displace, supplant, supersede mean to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another.

replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.

replaced the broken window

displace implies an ousting or dislodging.

war had displaced thousands

supplant implies either a dispossessing or usurping of another's place, possessions, or privileges or an uprooting of something and its replacement with something else.

was abruptly supplanted in her affections by another

supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.

the new edition supersedes all previous ones

Examples of displace in a Sentence

The war has displaced thousands of people. The hurricane displaced most of the town's residents. The closing of the factory has displaced many workers. farming practices that displace large amounts of soil
Recent Examples on the Web Will this left-leaning centrist party be better for business than the right-leaning centrist party it’s displaced? Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 5 July 2024 Thousands of Black people were displaced, more than 800 injured, and as many as 300 people were killed. Kizzy Cox, Essence, 4 July 2024 The new exodus comes on top of the 1 million people who fled Rafah since May, as well as tens of thousands who were displaced the past week from a new Israeli offensive in the Shijaiyah district of northern Gaza. Wafaa Shurafa, arkansasonline.com, 3 July 2024 In Iowa, where more than 1,000 residents have been displaced and entire neighborhoods evacuated, Gov. Kim Reynolds declared a disaster and requested federal assistance. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for displace 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'displace.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from Middle French desplacer, from des- dis- + place place

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of displace was in 1549

Dictionary Entries Near displace

Cite this Entry

“Displace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/displace. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

displace

verb
dis·​place (ˈ)dis-ˈplās How to pronounce displace (audio)
1
: to remove from a usual or proper place
especially : to expel or force to flee from home or homeland
displaced persons
2
a
: to remove physically out of position
water displaced by a floating object
b
: to take the place of : replace
displaceable adjective

Medical Definition

displace

transitive verb
dis·​place (ˈ)dis-ˈplās How to pronounce displace (audio)
displaced; displacing
1
a
: to remove from the usual or proper place
in heterotopia the gray portions of the cord are displaced so that patches of gray matter are scattered among the bundles of white fibersR. L. Cecil et al.
b
: to shift (an emotion or behavior) from a maladaptive or unacceptable object or form of outlet to a more adaptive or acceptable one
displace punishable behavior by directing it towards things that cannot punishB. F. Skinner
2
: to set free from chemical combination by taking the place of
zinc displaces the hydrogen of dilute acids
3
: to subject to percolation

More from Merriam-Webster on displace

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