evicted; evicting; evicts

transitive verb

1
a
: to recover (property) from a person by legal process
b
: to put (a tenant) out by legal process
2
: to force out : expel
eviction noun
evictor noun
Choose the Right Synonym for evict

eject, expel, oust, evict mean to drive or force out.

eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.

ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.

a student expelled from college

oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.

police ousted the squatters

evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.

evicted for nonpayment of rent

Examples of evict in a Sentence

His landlord has threatened to evict him if he doesn't pay the rent soon. They were evicted from their apartment.
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.
In a police report obtained by Newsweek, Colin Gray told officials in 2023 that his family was evicted from their prior address in Jefferson, Georgia. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024 Four other families will be evicted from the homes east of Bellingham in the following weeks, said Gabe Galanda, an Indigenous human rights lawyer who is representing the families facing eviction. Christine Clarridge, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024 According to the analysis, 50% of participants used funds for education and training, 70% were less likely to be evicted and the group overall was three times more likely to be able to afford a $400 emergency expense compared to nonparticipants. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 7 Nov. 2024 Adra’s filming begins in 2019 and stretches until 2023, chronicling the Israeli government’s attempt to evict the villagers by force, having claimed the land for a military training facility and firing range in 1981. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for evict 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin evictus, past participle of evincere, from Latin, to vanquish, win a point — more at evince

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of evict was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near evict

Cite this Entry

“Evict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evict. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

evict

verb
: to put (a person) out from property by legal action
eviction noun
evictor noun

Legal Definition

evict

transitive verb
: to put (a tenant) out of property by force, by virtue of a paramount title, or especially by legal process
Etymology

Medieval Latin evictus, past participle of evincere to recover (property) by legal process, from Latin, to vanquish, regain possession of

More from Merriam-Webster on evict

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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