displace
C1Formal/Academic
Definition
Meaning
To force someone or something to move from their usual place or position.
To take the place of something or someone; to supplant or replace.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb carries a sense of forcefulness or external pressure causing the movement or replacement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or use; the word is used identically.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'displace' carries a formal and often negative connotation, implying unwanted removal or upheaval.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American journalistic and academic writing when discussing populations (e.g., 'displaced persons'), but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
displace N (from N)be displaced by NVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly; the word is not typically used in idiomatic phrases.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The new software will displace several legacy systems.
Academic
Climate change may displace millions of people in low-lying coastal regions.
Everyday
The new supermarket displaced the old florist on the high street.
Technical
The object displaces a volume of water equal to its own weight.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new housing development threatens to displace the local wildlife.
- Manual jobs are being displaced by automation.
American English
- The hurricane displaced thousands of residents from their homes.
- Coal is being displaced by natural gas in many power plants.
adverb
British English
- N/A. There is no standard adverb form 'displaceably'.
American English
- N/A. There is no standard adverb form 'displaceably'.
adjective
British English
- N/A. The adjective is 'displaced'.
American English
- N/A. The adjective is 'displaced'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A big wave displaced all the water from the pool.
- The new manager displaced the old one.
- The construction project will temporarily displace the bus station.
- Electric vehicles are starting to displace petrol cars.
- The invasive species has displaced native plants across the region.
- Economic pressures displaced traditional farming methods.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of DIS-PLACE: putting someone OUT of their PLACE.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE OF STATE IS CHANGE OF LOCATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'displease' (не нравиться).
- Do not translate simply as 'смещать', which can be too narrow; 'вытеснять' or 'заменять' are often closer.
- The adjective 'displaced' as in 'displaced person' is лучше перевести как 'перемещенный' (лицо), not 'смещенный'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'displace' with 'misplace' (to lose temporarily).
- Using it in informal contexts where 'move' or 'push out' would be more natural.
- Incorrect: 'He displaced his keys.' Correct: 'He misplaced his keys.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of these sentences uses 'displace' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Displace' emphasizes the forceful or unintended removal of the original entity. 'Replace' is more neutral, focusing on the new thing taking over the function or position.
Yes, commonly. 'Displaced persons' or 'displaced communities' refers to people forced to leave their homes, often due to conflict or disaster.
Yes, it is more common in formal, academic, journalistic, and technical contexts. In everyday speech, simpler words like 'move', 'push out', or 'replace' are often used.
In physics and engineering, it is used in Archimedes' principle: an object in a fluid displaces a volume of fluid equal to its own volume.