evict
C1Formal; Legal/Administrative
Definition
Meaning
To force someone to leave a property, typically by legal process.
To expel, oust, or remove someone from a place or position of occupancy, often with an implication of authority or legal right.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically involves a landlord-tenant relationship and implies a failure to meet contractual obligations (e.g., non-payment of rent). Can be used metaphorically for forceful removal from any space or situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The legal procedures and terminology surrounding eviction differ, but the core word is identical. 'Eviction notice' is common in both.
Connotations
Strongly associated with housing law, poverty, and social inequality. Carries negative connotations of loss and distress.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects, tied to news and legal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] evicts [Object] from [Location][Subject] is evicted from [Location]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to) get the boot (informal equivalent for being evicted)”
- “shown the door”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company was evicted from its premises for breaching the lease.
Academic
The study analysed the socio-economic impact of policies that lead to evicting low-income families.
Everyday
They hadn't paid rent for six months, so the landlord had to evict them.
Technical
The court issued a writ of possession to authorise the bailiffs to evict the occupants.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council can evict tenants for anti-social behaviour.
- The bailiffs arrived to evict the family.
American English
- The landlord filed papers to evict the tenant.
- They were evicted for having an unauthorized pet.
adverb
British English
- They were forcibly evicted.
- The property was illegally evicted.
American English
- The tenants were summarily evicted.
- He was wrongfully evicted from the apartment.
adjective
British English
- The evicted family sought help from the housing charity.
- He faced an eviction order.
American English
- Evicted tenants have certain legal rights.
- The eviction process can take months.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The landlord wanted to evict them because they were noisy.
- If you don't pay, they can evict you.
- After numerous complaints, the housing association decided to evict the problematic tenant.
- The new owners plan to evict all current residents to renovate the building.
- The regime's first move was to evict the dissidents from their government-owned apartments.
- Legislation was introduced to make it harder for landlords to evict tenants without just cause.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'E-VICT' as in 'Exit - VICTim'. A victim is forced to exit their home.
Conceptual Metaphor
OWNERSHIP/LAW AS A PHYSICAL FORCE (The law/owner exerts force to remove a person).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как "избегать" (to avoid). Это ложный друг. Правильный перевод связан с выселением: "выселять", "выгонять".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'evict' without 'from' (e.g., 'They evicted him the house' is wrong). Confusing 'evict' (legal, from property) with 'emit' (to send out).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most precise meaning of 'evict'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Evict' is formal and implies a legal or official process, usually related to property. 'Kick out' is informal and can be used for any situation where someone is forced to leave.
Yes, metaphorically. You can be 'evicted' from a competition, a position, or even a digital platform, meaning forcibly removed.
Primarily yes, but it can sometimes be used humorously for objects, e.g., 'I evicted the spider from my bathtub.'
Eviction. The process or act of evicting someone is an eviction.