displace

verb

dis·​place (ˌ)dis-ˈplās 

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

(ˌ)dis-ˈplā-sə-bəl 

di-ˈsplā-

adjective

Synonyms of displace

• remove
• relocate
• move
• transfer
• shift
• disturb

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

With a length of almost 1,100 feet and displacing more than 100,000 tons, Nimitz-class carriers are among the world’s largest warships, eclipsed only by the US Navy’s Ford-class carriers, of which only one is in service to date. — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

As climate chaos causes oceans to swallow coastlands, and as surging water displaces and devastates communities, social survival will demand that people find ways to live and work with – and on – the water. — New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026

Local authorities opened schools, parks and public buildings as shelters, providing tents, mattresses and food to the displaced. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Eight families have been displaced, firefighters said, and the American Red Cross is helping support them. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for displace

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase

Kids Definition

displace

verb

dis·​place (ˈ)dis-ˈplās 

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

-ə-bəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

displace

transitive verb

dis·​place (ˈ)dis-ˈplās 

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 fibers

—R. 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 punish

—B. 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