displace

verb

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dis·place | \ (ˌ)dis-ˈplās

, di-ˈsplās \

displaced; displacing; displaces

Definition of displace

transitive verb

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

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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 Doesn’t have much pop in his hands to truly disrupt or displace defenders from the play. — Scott Patsko, cleveland, 30 Apr. 2022 The double-decker option would have also displaced more housing units and had more impact on historic properties, as double-decker highways displace adjacent properties to build on and off ramps. — Matt Mcfarland, CNN, 26 Jan. 2022 There are concerns about rising property prices, which could displace locals, and about the scale of expansion. — Tom Robbins, Travel + Leisure, 13 Dec. 2021 Five years after Colombia signed the peace deal with the FARC, splinter groups, paramilitary organizations and drug cartels continue to terrorize and displace communities across the country. — Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2022 Widely built for navies around the world, the Type 209-class subs displace 1,395 tons underwater, have a length of 193 feet, and can do 21.5 knots submerged. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 22 Apr. 2021 The second phase of the development would displace the Eaddys, whose family has lived for decades in a three-story rowhome at the intersection of North Carrollton Avenue and Sarah Ann Street. — Giacomo Bologna, Baltimore Sun, 12 Apr. 2022 Too much water pressure can displace or prevent seeds from germinating altogether. — Jennifer Konerman, Sunset Magazine, 30 Mar. 2022 The stats are foreboding: A war in Ukraine could displace more than 1 million people into nearby European countries. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 25 Feb. 2022 See More

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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Dictionary Entries Near displace

dispiteous

displace

displaced person

Statistics for displace

Last Updated

10 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Displace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/displace. Accessed 19 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for displace

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