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

And while Democrats have expressed scorn and heaped criticism of recall efforts against sitting governors of their party, there’s every reason to think that, with the political tables turned, the process could be used to dislodge a Republican state chief executive from office. —David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026

Ozzy led throughout the entire contest, but hurt his back while trying to dislodge the key. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026

All stores in the strip mall were evacuated, and crews located a gas meter behind the building that had been dislodged from the supply line coming from the ground. —CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026

As your mother taught you, move in a circular or S-pattern in order to dislodge debris. —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026

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