oust

verb

ˈau̇st 

ousted; ousting; ousts

transitive verb

1

a

: to remove from or dispossess of property or position by legal action, by force, or by the compulsion of necessity

The rebels ousted the dictator from power.

b

: to take away (something, such as a right or authority) : bar, remove

The states do not like attempts by Congress to oust their jurisdiction.

2

: to take the place of : supplant

must be careful that quantity does not oust quality

—R. V. Williams

Synonyms

• eject
• out
• banish
• dismiss
• chase
• expel
• evict

Choose the Right Synonym for oust

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 oust in a Sentence

The rebels ousted the dictator from power.

Large national banks are ousting local banks in many communities.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sergio Perez was ousted after the 2024 season due to performance concerns, while his replacement, Liam Lawson, was demoted to junior F1 team Racing Bulls after the first two rounds of 2025. —Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025

In 2022, Miami commissioners voted to oust the board members, which included Patrick Range, and replaced them with city commission members. —Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025

The three-term Republican attorney general vigorously sought to oust Phelan in the GOP primary, forcing a runoff that the outgoing House leader barely survived. —John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025

In 2024, after several years of poor performance, former CEO Carlos Tavares was ousted in December. —Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 29 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French oster, ouster to take off, remove, oust, from Late Latin obstare to ward off, from Latin, to stand in the way, from ob- in the way + stare to stand — more at ob-, stand

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for oust

• doused
• faust
• joust

Kids Definition

oust

verb

ˈau̇st 

: to force or drive out (as from office or from possession of something)