usurp

verb

yu̇-ˈsərp 

also

-ˈzərp 

usurped; usurping; usurps

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

usurpation

ˌyü-sər-ˈpā-shən 

 also  ˌyü-zər-

noun

Did you know?

While often associated with questionable behavior by the royals of eras past, usurp retains its usefulness today. It’s still typically applied when someone takes power without authority or the right to do so, though the power taken is not necessarily political and the question of right and authority may be subject to debate; a city council usurping a mayor’s power is a more traditional use of the word, but one product can be said to be usurping market share from another, and one athlete may claim to have usurped GOAT status. The usurpation can even be sartorial: Amanda Mull, writing for The Atlantic, noted how tracksuits in the 1980s “usurped much of cotton sweatpants’ momentum toward legitimate coolness.” Usurp comes from Latin: usurpare, meaning “to take possession of without a legal claim,” was formed by combining usu (a form of usus, meaning “use,” which also led to the words usually and use) and rapere (“to seize”).

Synonyms

• appropriate
• arrogate
• commandeer
• convert
• expropriate
• pirate
• preempt
• press
• seize
• take over

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 on the Web

Wing-backs James McClean and Ryan Barnett were first choice for much of the campaign before January arrival Ryan Longman eventually usurped Barnett down the right flank. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025

After years of gradually usurping many forms of legacy media, podcasts are set to get their flowers on one of Hollywood’s biggest nights. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 May 2025

David Caruso infamously quit NYPD Blue after the first season to pursue movie stardom that never came; that show did fine without him, in part because replacement Jimmy Smits was so good, but mainly because Caruso had by that point already been usurped in fans’ hearts by co-star Dennis Franz. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025

The lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade alleges that Trump has illegally usurped Congress’ power to levy tariffs by claiming that trade deficits with other countries constitute an emergency. —Dan Mangan, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for usurp

• burp
• chirp

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

usurp

verb

yu̇-ˈsərp 

also

-ˈzərp 

: to seize and hold by force or without right

usurp power from the king

Legal Definition

usurp

verb

yu̇-ˈsərp, -ˈzərp 

transitive verb

: to seize and hold (as office, place, or powers) in possession by force or without right

the courts may not usurp the powers of the legislature

intransitive verb

: to seize or exercise authority or possession wrongfully

usurpation

ˌyü-sər-ˈpā-shən, -zər- 

noun

usurper

yu̇-ˈsər-pər, -ˈzər- 

noun

Etymology

Latin usurpare to take possession of without a strict legal claim, from usus use + rapere to seize