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

Land Power vividly shows the lasting consequences of this redistribution of land, for instance in the case of the Cahuilla Indians of California’s Coachella Valley, a people first confined to reservations and then evicted from even those lands in the 1950s. —Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025

Months or even years can pass before the owner of the property finally succeeds in evicting the squatters. —Chris West, Baltimore Sun, 12 June 2025

The affair resulted in Attila’s breakup, the (temporary) end of his best friendship, and Joel getting evicted from Small’s house. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2025

The film follows her on the worst day of her life as she gets fired, evicted and robbed at gunpoint. —Caroline Blair, People.com, 10 June 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