displace

verb

dis·place | \ (ˌ)dis-ˈplās

, di-ˈsplās\

displaced; displacing; displaces

Definition of displace

1a : 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

2a : to move physically out of position a floating object displaces water

b : to take the place of (as in a chemical reaction) : supplant

Other Words from displace Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about displace

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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

Last month alone, nearly 40 people died in the brutal attacks and more than 1,000 were displaced as the militants burned homes, stores and other buildings. — Eric Schmitt, New York Times, "ISIS May Be Waning, but Global Threats of Terrorism Continue to Spread," 6 July 2018 Even so, the ship displaces so much water that a swell rolls along the channel’s side. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "America's New Energy Coast," 19 Mar. 2019 At the moment, 68.5 million people are displaced around the globe. — Mattie Kahn, Glamour, "Let the Poet Warsan Shire Tell You About the "Bravest Girl in the World"," 8 Mar. 2019 At the national level, the compulsion to pronounce blanket moral condemnations about other Americans has displaced the instinct to find the facts. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "The Smollett Hoaxers," 21 Feb. 2019 Fire ants, much like other creatures, such as snakes, can be displaced from their habitats during hurricanes or heavy rainfall that results in flooding. — Madeline Farber, Fox News, "Florence floodwaters result in 'islands' of floating fire ants," 19 Sep. 2018 The Storm class carriers, displacing 75,000 tons and carrying up to 80-90 aircraft would approach the American Ford-class carriers in capability. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Russia’s Beleaguered Aircraft Carrier Could Be Scrapped If New Repair Yard Can’t Be Found," 9 Apr. 2019 Ten days ago, Cyclone Idai struck Zimbabwe and Mozambique, killing more than 700 people and displacing 500,000. — Kelsey Piper, Vox, "Why disaster relief is so hard," 25 Mar. 2019 But the governments and aid agencies fear thousands more could be dead and hundreds of thousands displaced across the three countries. — Nicholas Bariyo And Matina Stevis-gridneff, WSJ, "Humanitarian Disaster Grows in Southern Africa After Cyclone," 20 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'displace.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

22 May 2019

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Time Traveler for displace

The first known use of displace was in 1549

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More Definitions for displace

displace

verb

English Language Learners Definition of displace

: to take the job or position of (someone or something)

: to force (people or animals) to leave the area where they live

chiefly US : to remove (someone) from a job or position

See the full definition for displace in the English Language Learners Dictionary

displace

verb

dis·place | \ dis-ˈplās

displaced; displacing

Kids Definition of displace

1 : to remove from the usual or proper place The fire displaced many forest animals.

2 : to take the place of : replace Chess displaced checkers as his favorite game.

3 : to move out of position A floating object displaces water.

displace

transitive verb

dis·place | \ (ˈ)dis-ˈplās

displaced; displacing

Medical Definition of displace

1a : 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