displace
verb
dis·place
(ˌ)dis-ˈplās 
di-ˈsplās
displaced; displacing; displaces
1
a
: to remove from the usual or proper place
specifically
: to expel or force to flee from home or homeland
displaced persons
b
: to remove from an office, status, or job
c
obsolete
: to drive out : banish
2
a
: to move physically out of position
a floating object displaces water
b
: to take the place of (as in a chemical reaction) : supplant
Examples of displace in a Sentence
The war has displaced thousands of people.
The hurricane displaced most of the town's residents.
The closing of the factory has displaced many workers.
farming practices that displace large amounts of soil
Recent Examples on the Web
If this federal borrowing displaces investment in low-yielding vehicles like money market funds or purchases of other governments’ low-yielding bonds, and instead redirects capital into stock market index funds (which generally yield higher average returns), society might be better off.
—
James Broughel, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Many felt abused by the creation of Everglades National Park in 1947, which had displaced a fishing village in Flamingo, at the southern tip of the park, and had caused resentment among the Miccosukee, some of whom lived south of Tamiami Trail, in what would become the park.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2025
That still would appear to be more than enough for the federal workers likely to be displaced.
—Scott Cohn, CNBC, 10 July 2025
By relocating rescue pets from Central Texas, Wings of Rescue is freeing up space at the shelters, allowing the organization to focus on serving animals displaced by the flood without worrying about overcrowding.
—Kelli Bender, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for displace
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James Broughel, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Many felt abused by the creation of Everglades National Park in 1947, which had displaced a fishing village in Flamingo, at the southern tip of the park, and had caused resentment among the Miccosukee, some of whom lived south of Tamiami Trail, in what would become the park.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2025
That still would appear to be more than enough for the federal workers likely to be displaced.
—Scott Cohn, CNBC, 10 July 2025
By relocating rescue pets from Central Texas, Wings of Rescue is freeing up space at the shelters, allowing the organization to focus on serving animals displaced by the flood without worrying about overcrowding.
—Kelli Bender, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for displace
Cite this Entry
“Displace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/displace. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
displace
verb
dis·place
(ˈ)dis-ˈplās
1
: to remove from a usual or proper place
especially
: to expel or force to flee from home or homeland
displaced persons
2
a
: to remove physically out of position
water displaced by a floating object
b
: to take the place of : replace
Medical Definition
displace
transitive verb
dis·place
(ˈ)dis-ˈplās
displaced; displacing
1
a
: to remove from the usual or proper place
in heterotopia the gray portions of the cord are displaced so that patches of gray matter are scattered among the bundles of white fibers—R. L. Cecil et al.
R. L. Cecil et al.
b
: to shift (an emotion or behavior) from a maladaptive or unacceptable object or form of outlet to a more adaptive or acceptable one
displace punishable behavior by directing it towards things that cannot punish—B. F. Skinner
B. F. Skinner2
: to set free from chemical combination by taking the place of
zinc displaces the hydrogen of dilute acids
3
: to subject to percolation
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