oust

verb

ˈau̇st 

ousted; ousting; ousts

transitive verb

1

a

: to remove from or dispossess of property or position by legal action, by force, or by the compulsion of necessity

The rebels ousted the dictator from power.

b

: to take away (something, such as a right or authority) : bar, remove

The states do not like attempts by Congress to oust their jurisdiction.

2

: to take the place of : supplant

must be careful that quantity does not oust quality

—R. V. Williams

Synonyms

• banish
• boot (out)
• bounce
• cast out
• chase
• dismiss
• drum (out)
• eject
• expel
• extrude
• kick out
• out
• rout
• run off
• throw out
• turf (out) [chiefly British]
• turn out

Choose the Right Synonym for oust

eject, expel, oust, evict mean to drive or force out.

eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action.

ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar

expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical.

a student expelled from college

oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion.

police ousted the squatters

evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home.

evicted for nonpayment of rent

Examples of oust in a Sentence

The rebels ousted the dictator from power.

Large national banks are ousting local banks in many communities.

Recent Examples on the Web

Like with Collins, Democrats had optimism about ousting Tillis in 2020, but their candidate fell short by less than 2 points. —Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 29 Nov. 2024

He was formally removed from his position two months later, along with former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was ousted in July 2023 after serving only eight months. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024

In the November election, Bloomfield Township's supervisor, Dani Walsh, was ousted by former state lawmaker Mike McCready; and Independence Township voters elected Chuck Phyle to his first term as supervisor. —Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 28 Nov. 2024

As Martha Teichner reported on CBS Sunday Morning, employees staged a company-wide protest when their beloved CEO, Arthur T. Demoulas, was ousted. —Bruce Weinstein, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French oster, ouster to take off, remove, oust, from Late Latin obstare to ward off, from Latin, to stand in the way, from ob- in the way + stare to stand — more at ob-, stand

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

oust

verb

ˈau̇st 

: to force or drive out (as from office or from possession of something)