displace

dis·place

verb \(ˌ)dis-ˈplās, di-ˈsplās\

Definition of DISPLACE

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

— dis·place·able \-ˈplā-sə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of DISPLACE

1. The war has displaced thousands of people.
2. The hurricane displaced most of the town's residents.
3. The closing of the factory has displaced many workers.
4. farming practices that displace large amounts of soil

Origin of DISPLACE

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

First Known Use: 1549

Related to DISPLACE

Synonyms: budge, dislocate, move, disturb, relocate, remove, reposition, shift, transfer, transpose

Antonyms: crown, enthrone, throne

Related Words: bear, carry, cart, convey, drive, haul, lug, tote, transmit, transplant, transport; replace, supersede, supplant; alter, make over, modify, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary

Near Antonyms: anchor, fix, freeze, moor, secure, set, stabilize; embed (also imbed), entrench (also intrench), implant, ingrain (also engrain), lodge, root

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at replace

Rhymes with DISPLACE

abase, airspace, Alsace, ambsace, apace, backspace, best-case, biface, birthplace, blackface, boldface, bookcase, bootlace, braincase, briefcase, clubface, crankcase, cyclase, debase, deface, disgrace, dogface, doughface, efface, embrace, emplace, encase, enchase, enlace, erase, euclase, firebase, fireplace, footpace, footrace, foreface, freebase, gyrase, half-space, hard case, headspace, hydrase, Jerez, kinase, lactase, lightface, lipase, lyase, maltase, manes, millrace, milreis, misplace, mutase, notecase, null-space, nutcase, outface, outpace, outrace, paleface, postface, Quilmes, replace, scapegrace, shoelace, showcase, showplace, slipcase, smearcase, someplace, staircase, subbase, subspace, suitcase, tailrace, tenace, typeface, ukase, unbrace, unlace, watchcase, wheelbase, whey-face, whiteface, workplace, worst-case