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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Equally powerful are the scenes where Leontyev turns his camera on Stefanov as the painter describes how the drastic change from his peaceful life in the country to one who has become displaced by war has forever altered him as an artist. Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024 In his opinion piece, Sanders pointed to the widespread destruction in Gaza, including on housing and universities, and the roughly two million who have been displaced. Brad Dress, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2024 Over 3,500 people in Lebanon have been killed, and more than one million displaced, according to Lebanese officials. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024 The agency is also footing a bill of around $2 million per month to house those displaced in the meantime, Hogshead said. Lucille Sherman, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for displace 

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 1 Dec. 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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