usurp

verb \ yu̇-ˈsərp also -ˈzərp \

Definition of usurp

transitive verb

1 a :to seize and hold (office, place, functions, powers, etc.) in possession by force or without right

usurp a throne

b :to take or make use of without right

usurped the rights to her life story

2 :to take the place of by or as if by force :supplant

must not let stock responses based on inherited prejudice usurp careful judgment

intransitive verb

:to seize or exercise authority or possession wrongfully

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usurpation

play \ˌyü-sər-ˈpā-shən also ˌyü-zər-\ noun

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usurper

play \yu̇-ˈsər-pər also -ˈzər-\ noun

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Examples of usurp in a Sentence

Some people have accused city council members of trying to usurp the mayor's power.
attempting to usurp the throne

Recent Examples of usurp from the Web

Second, the assumption that Williams is simply going to usurp the starting gig is laughable.

— michael beller, SI.com, "Which RB Should Fantasy Football Owners Draft: Isaiah Crowell Or Carlos Hyde?," 13 Aug. 2017
BMW badly wants to usurp the S Class here in creating a large sedan that performs like Jason Statham in a suit.

— hannah elliott, Bloomberg.com, "Here's a Superpowerful BMW That's Best Enjoyed From the Back Seat," 31 July 2017
Indeed, many White House insiders speculate that Tuesday could precede a larger sanctions package against Venezuela’s energy sector—one all but guaranteed to disrupt the Venezuelan economy, but unlikely to usurp Maduro’s overwhelming influence.

— aria bendix, The Atlantic, "U.S. Sanctions Top Venezuelan Officials," 26 July 2017
Position battle: Do the veterans continue to start at corner, or will they be usurped by a spring superstar?

— tyson alger, OregonLive.com, "Oregon Ducks position battles to watch: Can freshman Thomas Graham Jr. push vets at corner?," 17 July 2017
Caracas, the capital, has been convulsed by protests since the end of March, when the supreme court usurped the powers of the national assembly.

— The Economist, "The homecoming kingWhat the unjailing of Leopoldo López means for Venezuela," 13 July 2017
When world leaders meet in Hamburg on Friday, China and Germany will move in to usurp the U.S.’s role.

— marc champion, Bloomberg.com, "As U.S. Retires From World Leadership, China and Germany Step Up," 3 July 2017
The Supreme Court on Monday began the process of rebuking lower courts for usurping the political branches on national security.

— WSJ, "A Unanimous Rebuke to Judges on the Travel Ban," 26 June 2017
Just five years later, Collins' teenage fantasy has been usurped by his new reality.

— andrew greif, OregonLive.com, "New Trail Blazer Zach Collins: 'I don't see why I can't be the Rookie of the Year'," 22 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'usurp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Usurp was borrowed into English in the 14th century from the Anglo-French word usorper, which in turn derives from the Latin verb usurpare, meaning "to take possession of without a legal claim." Usurpare itself was formed by combining usu (a form of usus, meaning "use") and rapere ("to seize"). Other descendants of rapere in English include rapacious ("given to seizing or extorting what is coveted"), rapine ("the seizing and carrying away of things by force"), rapt (the earliest sense of which is "lifted up and carried away"), and ravish ("to seize and take away by violence").

Origin and Etymology of usurp

Middle English, from Anglo-French usorper, from Latin usurpare to take possession of without legal claim, from usu (ablative of usus use) + rapere to seize — more at rapid

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First Known Use: 14th century

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