displace

verb

Saydis-PLAYS/dɪsˈpleɪs/

6 meanings of displace

1
verbtransitive
To move something or someone away from where they were, especially to force people from their homes.
Like a big wave pushing people off a beach and away from where they were sitting.
Wars can displace millions of people in just a few weeks.
The earthquake displaced hundreds of families from their homes.
Similaruproot, expel, evict, exile, oust
Oppositeresettle, repatriate
Note
2
verbtransitive
To take the place of another person or thing.
Like a new student taking the seat someone else used to sit in.
New technology can displace older tools very quickly.
Streaming services have displaced most video rental stores.
Similarreplace, supplant, supersede, oust, usurp
3
verbtransitive
To move something out of its proper place.
Like bumping a vase so it no longer sits where it should.
Be careful not to displace the books on the shelf.
The movers displaced several pieces of furniture.
Similardislodge, shift, move, dislocate, disturb
Note
4
verbtransitive
To take the place of something because you are better or more useful than it.
Like a sharper knife taking over because it cuts better than the old one.
Better tools always displace worse ones over time.
The new engine displaced the old one because it ran more cleanly.
Similarsupersede, supplant, replace, eclipse, overtake
Note
5
verbtransitive
To have the same weight as the water that a floating object pushes out of the way.
Like getting into a full tub and pushing out water equal to your own weight.
A large warship can displace tens of thousands of tons.
The new ferry displaces about three thousand tons of water.
Similarweigh
Note
6
verbtransitive
To push down a feeling or memory so you do not have to deal with it.
Like pushing a bad memory into a locked drawer in your mind so you don't see it.
Some people displace painful memories instead of facing them.
He had displaced his anger for years before it surfaced.
Similarrepress, suppress, bury, block
Oppositeexpress, confront, acknowledge
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from the Middle French word desplacer.