usurp

verb

yu̇-ˈsərp 

also

-ˈzərp 

usurped; usurping; usurps

transitive verb

1

a

: to seize and hold (office, place, functions, powers, etc.) in possession by force or without right

usurp a throne

b

: to take or make use of without right

usurped the rights to her life story

2

: to take the place of by or as if by force : supplant

must not let stock responses based on inherited prejudice usurp careful judgment

intransitive verb

: to seize or exercise authority or possession wrongfully

usurpation

ˌyü-sər-ˈpā-shən 

 also  ˌyü-zər-

noun

Did you know?

Usurp was borrowed into English in the 14th century from the Anglo-French word usorper, which in turn derives from the Latin verb usurpare, meaning "to take possession of without a legal claim." Usurpare itself was formed by combining usu (a form of usus, meaning "use") and rapere ("to seize"). Other descendants of rapere in English include rapacious ("given to seizing or extorting what is coveted"), rapine ("the seizing and carrying away of things by force"), rapt (the earliest sense of which is "lifted up and carried away"), and ravish (one meaning of which is "to seize and take away by violence").

Synonyms

• appropriate
• arrogate
• commandeer
• convert
• expropriate
• pirate
• preempt
• press
• seize
• take over

Examples of usurp in a Sentence

Some people have accused city council members of trying to usurp the mayor's power.

attempting to usurp the throne

Recent Examples on the Web

The surprise isn’t exactly welcome for the courier, whose strategy to court higher-value packages has been usurped by insatiable consumer demand for cheap products. —Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 25 July 2024

Ostrander and other neighbors fought back, convincing Michigan lawmakers last year to enact a statewide permitting law that usurps local authority to stop such large-scale plans. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2024

Atop those deep policy flaws was another serious problem: The Council went for legislative overreach, usurping the authority to engineer the expansion in the first place. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2024

Meanwhile, on the Costa del Sol, the iconic Marbella Club earned the No. 2 spot, usurping last year’s winner, Finca Cortesin Hotel Golf & Spa, as readers’ favorite Andalucian stay. —Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French usorper, from Latin usurpare to take possession of without legal claim, from usu (ablative of usus use) + rapere to seize — more at rapid

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

usurp

verb

yu̇-ˈsərp 

also

-ˈzərp 

: to seize and hold by force or without right

usurp power from the king

Legal Definition

usurp

verb

yu̇-ˈsərp, -ˈzərp 

transitive verb

: to seize and hold (as office, place, or powers) in possession by force or without right

the courts may not usurp the powers of the legislature

intransitive verb

: to seize or exercise authority or possession wrongfully

usurpation

ˌyü-sər-ˈpā-shən, -zər- 

noun

usurper

yu̇-ˈsər-pər, -ˈzər- 

noun

Etymology

Latin usurpare to take possession of without a strict legal claim, from usus use + rapere to seize