displace

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'displace' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean 'force someone to leave their home or country', or to mean 'take the place of something or someone'. Example sentence: The conflict in the region has displaced thousands of people from their homes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is not right to prevent Palestinians from farming their lands; to restrict a student's ability to move around the West Bank; or to displace Palestinian families from their home.

The Economist

It means accepting that the spirit of inquiry should always be allowed to flourish and go wherever it is led, even if these are paths that continue to displace the centrality of the human or upset the usual ways of conceiving of the world.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ukip's only MP, Douglas Carswell, has claimed his party could displace Labour as the main electoral threat to the Conservatives, dispatching the party in England the same way the SNP did in Scotland.

The Guardian

We displace a word that conjures images of suffering for one with statistician-like sterility.

The Guardian - Opinion

What he should have been saying to the Israeli government is that it is unnecessary for you to kill innocent civilians, to displace a quarter of the Gazan population, for you to flatten schools, hospitals and power supplies and water supplies to achieve your end.

The Guardian

Taylor made it clear the app was not an attempt to displace established VOD services or annoy broadcasters.

The Guardian

"It is easy to say, it is more difficult to do," Bruce Sewell, Apple's general counsel and senior vice president of legal and government affairs, told the conference when asked about Lei's bold claims which would require Xiaomi to displace Apple in second place, adding that there were "many good competitive phones in China".

The Guardian - Tech

The process would displace 600 residents.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Most taxes dampen, distort or displace economic activity by changing incentives on the margins.

The Economist

Hence, in the late 1990s, Google was able to displace the cognoscenti's engine of choice, AltaVista.

The Economist

It grew by 40% last year, and hybrid web-audio conferences are now starting to displace audio-only conference calls.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "displace", consider the specific context to ensure it accurately conveys the intended meaning of movement, replacement, or forced removal. Pay attention to the emotional weight the word carries, especially when referring to people being displaced from their homes.

Common error

Avoid using "displace" when a more neutral term like "replace" or "move" would be more appropriate. Overusing "displace" can make your writing sound overly dramatic or biased, especially in contexts that don't involve force or hardship.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "displace" is as a transitive verb. It requires an object and describes the act of moving something or someone from their usual or proper place or, taking the place of something else. Ludwig examples illustrate both uses, such as displacing families from their homes or displacing established entities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "displace" functions primarily as a transitive verb, signifying removal, replacement, or forced relocation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. With a very common frequency, "displace" is frequently found in news and media, business, and scientific contexts. When writing, it's crucial to ensure that "displace" accurately reflects the intended meaning and that a more neutral term isn't more appropriate. Alternatives include "replace", "supplant" and "remove". Understanding its nuances and appropriate usage ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

replace

Indicates substituting one thing for another, focusing on the act of taking over a role or position.

supplant

Implies gradually replacing something established, often suggesting a competitive element.

oust

Suggests forcefully removing someone from a position of power or authority.

evict

Specifically refers to legally forcing someone to leave a property or home.

remove

A general term for taking something away, lacking the forceful connotation of "displace" in some contexts.

relocate

Focuses on moving something or someone to a different location, without necessarily implying force or replacement.

unseat

Refers to removing someone from a seat or position, often in a political or competitive context.

dislodge

Implies forcing something or someone out of a fixed position or place.

deracinate

Suggests uprooting or displacing someone from their native environment or culture.

shift

Denotes a change in position or direction, often less forceful than "displace".

FAQs

How can I use "displace" in a sentence?

You can use "displace" to describe forcing people from their homes, as in, "The war "displaced" thousands of families". Or, you can use it to mean to take the place of, such as "Renewable energy can "displace" fossil fuels".

What are some alternatives to "displace"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "displace" include "replace", "supplant", "remove", or "relocate".

When is it appropriate to use "displace" instead of "replace"?

"Displace" often implies a more forceful or significant change than "replace". Use "displace" when something is being moved against its will or when the replacement causes disruption or hardship. "Replace" is more neutral.

Can "displace" be used in a positive context?

While "displace" often carries negative connotations, it can be used in a more neutral sense when referring to the substitution of one thing for another to achieve a positive outcome. For instance, "Innovation can "displace" outdated practices leading to improvements".