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

That meant the vote came down to either Lala or ally Taylor Brown, and the house elected to evict LaTrice by a vote of 4-2. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2026

The main drama involves a rural teen-age tee girl who recognizes the resort’s president as the potentate who evicted her family from their land. — Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026

In 1968 Britain considered evicting the family by force, with declassified documents showing a plan to raze the fort. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Big Brother 28 cast Here's the full Big Brother season 28 cast, including who's left in the house and who has been evicted. — Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 27 Aug. 2026

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