dislodge

verb

dis·​lodge (ˌ)dis-ˈläj 

dislodged; dislodging; dislodges

transitive verb

1

: to drive from a position of hiding, defense, or advantage

2

: to force out of a secure or settled position

dislodged the rock with a shovel

intransitive verb

: to leave a place previously occupied

dislodgment

(ˌ)dis-ˈläj-mənt 

noun

or dislodgement

Examples of dislodge in a Sentence

The earthquake dislodged several boulders from the cliff.

He kicked at the stone to dislodge it.

The army has dislodged enemy forces from their stronghold.

Recent Examples on the Web

Scrub your way across the surface to dislodge any final particles and help remove germs and bacteria, then rinse the grill grates well with fresh water. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2025

Cuomo entered the race weeks later, and neither Lander nor Adams has been able so far to dislodge Mamdani as the ex-governor’s biggest threat. —David Weigel, semafor.com, 12 June 2025

Also, from a TV show where a chunk of the ruby red temporary organ sticks to a woman’s insides, bleeds, until a midwife reaches her arm up and up, a plumber’s auger, and dislodges the stubborn part. —Erica Stern june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025

China has long sought to dislodge the dollar’s preeminence in favor of a multipolar currency system in which the Renminbi would be the star. —Drew Bernstein, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English disloggen, from Anglo-French *desloger, from des- dis- + loger to find lodging for, encamp, from loge shelter — more at lodge

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for dislodge

• hodgepodge
• auge
• hodge
• podge
• fuselage

Kids Definition

dislodge

verb

dis·​lodge (ˈ)dis-ˈläj 

: to force out of a place especially of rest, hiding, or defense