evict

1 of 2

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

evictor

2 of 2

noun

evic·​tor -ktə(r) 

plural -s

: one that evicts

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

Verb

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

Verb

Most recently, of course, Sandringham became the new home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, after King Charles spearheaded efforts to evict his disgraced brother from Royal Lodge. — Emma Banks, InStyle, 12 July 2026

Foreman said many tenants with eviction histories haven’t been evicted again in the years since, but are still burdened by their record. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026

Now that same board is evicting Aust and nearly 100 other patients from the Silverado Beach Cities Memory Care Community. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

In June, SouthPark Mall Limited Partnership filed to evict Aroma360 NC Sp LLC, a luxury scenting and retail store at SouthPark Mall at 4400 Sharon Road. — Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Medieval Latin, from Late Latin evictus + Latin -or

First Known Use

Verb

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

Transitive verb

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