evict

verb

i-ˈvikt 

evicted; evicting; evicts

transitive verb

1

a

: to recover (property) from a person by legal process

b

: to put (a tenant) out by legal process

2

: to force out : expel

eviction

i-ˈvik-shən 

noun

evictor

i-ˈvik-tər 

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for evict

eject, expel, oust, evict mean to drive or force out.

eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.

ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.

a student expelled from college

oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.

police ousted the squatters

evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.

evicted for nonpayment of rent

Examples of evict in a Sentence

His landlord has threatened to evict him if he doesn't pay the rent soon.

They were evicted from their apartment.

Recent Examples on the Web

How did the Big Brother Season 27 houseguests vote in Week 6? Votes to evict Rylie: Mickey, Vince, Ashley, Will, Ava Votes to evict Morgan: Katherine, Kelley, Lauren, Keanu Who was evicted from Big Brother Season 27 in Week 6? —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2025

More than four months after the operator of the local Applebee's was suddenly evicted, the city recently fielded plans involving another operator, represented by property owner Nagawaukee MZL LLC and applicant Tom Vavra on behalf of Applebee's. —Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 18 Aug. 2025

Eighty-five percent of those being evicted don’t file an answer to the landlord’s claims, data shows. —Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025

Five-year-old Cambodian Mesa waits with her grandmother on August 15, 2025 at Prey Chan after the family said they were evicted from their homes by Thai soldiers despite a ceasefire. —Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin evictus, past participle of evincere, from Latin, to vanquish, win a point — more at evince

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for evict

• addict
• afflict
• constrict
• delict
• depict
• handpicked
• inflict
• predict
• relict
• restrict
• bricked
• clicked

Kids Definition

evict

verb

i-ˈvikt 

: to put (a person) out from property by legal action

eviction

-ˈvik-shən 

noun

evictor

-ˈvik-tər 

noun

Legal Definition

evict

transitive verb

i-ˈvikt 

: to put (a tenant) out of property by force, by virtue of a paramount title, or especially by legal process

Etymology

Medieval Latin evictus, past participle of evincere to recover (property) by legal process, from Latin, to vanquish, regain possession of