evict

verb

i-ˈvikt 

evicted; evicting; evicts

transitive verb

1

a

: to recover (property) from a person by legal process

b

: to put (a tenant) out by legal process

2

: to force out : expel

eviction

i-ˈvik-shən 

noun

evictor

i-ˈvik-tər 

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for evict

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 evict in a Sentence

His landlord has threatened to evict him if he doesn't pay the rent soon.

They were evicted from their apartment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Natalia was evicted from the apartment a year later and the couple was hit with accusations of abandonment and several charges related to the neglect of a dependent. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025

The ship was essentially evicted from its pier last year and given until Sept. 2024 to find a new home. —Washington Examiner Staff, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Feb. 2025

But a federal court ordered the ship evicted from the Philadelphia pier last summer, following a long legal battle between the conservancy and its landlord. —Isabelle Taft, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

In a 3-1 vote, the Housing and Homelessness Committee approved a motion that would bar landlords from evicting tenants for a variety of reasons, including for nonpayment of rent or if an owner wanted to move into a unit. —Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin evictus, past participle of evincere, from Latin, to vanquish, win a point — more at evince

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for evict

• addict
• afflict
• constrict
• delict
• depict
• handpicked
• inflict
• predict
• relict
• restrict
• bricked
• clicked

Kids Definition

evict

verb

i-ˈvikt 

: to put (a person) out from property by legal action

eviction

-ˈvik-shən 

noun

evictor

-ˈvik-tər 

noun

Legal Definition

evict

transitive verb

i-ˈvikt 

: to put (a tenant) out of property by force, by virtue of a paramount title, or especially by legal process

Etymology

Medieval Latin evictus, past participle of evincere to recover (property) by legal process, from Latin, to vanquish, regain possession of