emplace

verb

em·​place im-ˈplās How to pronounce emplace (audio)
emplaced; emplacing; emplaces

transitive verb

: to put into position
missiles emplaced around the city

Examples of emplace in a Sentence

the plan is to emplace more guns on the ridge north of the camp
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The order affects several thousand engineers, scientists and technicians across every NASA center, and strips away long-standing union rights that were emplaced to protect more than half the agency's workforce. Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2025 This is a complex process taking hours, so explosives need to be emplaced ahead of time. David Hambling, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 The Democrats’ guests also include at least one government watchdog dismissed by Trump in his bid to emplace loyalists across positions of influence. Zeke Miller, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2025 These forces will support enhanced detection and monitoring efforts and repair and emplace physical barriers, the release said. Luke Barr, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2025 In the coming days, SpaceX technicians will lift the ship on top of the Super Heavy booster already emplaced on the launch mount. Ars Technica, 9 Jan. 2025 Strong winds and high sea swells initially prevented the U.S. military from emplacing the pier. Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from emplacement

First Known Use

circa 1627, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of emplace was circa 1627

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Emplace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emplace. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

emplace

verb
em·​place im-ˈplās How to pronounce emplace (audio)
: to put into place

More from Merriam-Webster on emplace

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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