dislocate

American  

[dis-loh-keyt, dis-loh-keyt] / ˈdɪs loʊˌkeɪt, dɪsˈloʊ keɪt /

verb (used with object)

• dislocates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• dislocated,
  past participle,  past
• dislocating
  present participle

1. to put out of place; put out of proper relative position; displace.

   The glacier dislocated great stones. The earthquake dislocated several buildings.

2. to put out of joint or out of position, as a limb or an organ.

3. to throw out of order; upset; disorder.

   Frequent strikes dislocated the economy.

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noun

1. Gymnastics. a maneuver on the rings in which a gymnast in an inverted pike position turns over to swing down while pushing the arms out and turning them so that the palms are facing out when the body turns over.

dislocate British  

/ ˈdɪsləˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to disrupt or shift out of place or position

2. to displace (an organ or part) from its normal position, esp a bone from its joint

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undislocated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• dislocating
  present
• dislocated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• dislocate
  simple
• dislocates
  simple
• have dislocated
  perfect
• has dislocated
  perfect
• am dislocating
  progressive
• are dislocating
  progressive
• is dislocating
  progressive
• have been dislocating
  perfect progressive
• has been dislocating
  perfect progressive

Past

• dislocated
  simple
• had dislocated
  perfect
• was dislocating
  progressive
• were dislocating
  progressive
• had been dislocating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will dislocate
  simple
• will have dislocated
  perfect
• will be dislocating
  progressive
• will have been dislocating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of dislocate

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin dislocātus (past participle of dislocāre ), equivalent to Latin dis- dis- ¹ + locātus placed; see locate

Explanation

To dislocate is to move something out of its correct or regular place, or disrupt it. When a family moves to a new town, it dislocates the kids, and if you throw a bowling ball, you might dislocate your shoulder. A hurricane can dislocate boats, beach homes, and sea creatures, and a football injury can also dislocate your shoulder — moving the bone out of the joint in which it normally sits. It's painful to dislocate a bone, and it can be painful in a different way when circumstances dislocate your life. The Latin root is dislocare, "put out of place," from dis-, "away," and locare, "to place."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dislocate dislocates dislocated dislocating

Moreover, political instability could dislocate the supply chains for minerals on which Carpenter’s operations depend.

From Barron's ● May 21, 2026

In March, the BBC reported how Mr Durose had been prescribed diazepam for a chronic condition called hypermobility, which can cause fatigue, pain and stiffness in joints and muscles, and for joints to dislocate easily.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2024

He’d dislocate fingers in practice and pop them back in like nothing happened.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2023

Will giving birth be a beautiful if intense experience or will you hemorrhage, dislocate your pelvis or require an emergency C-section?

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2022

The jolt might’ve been enough to dislocate her bad shoulder.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

Like the author, Violet has a genetic condition that means the character dislocates joints and breaks bones easily - so must use her wits and inner strength to help her survive.

From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2025

This dislocates or untethers us from official narratives, which then makes governments more susceptible to corrupt and self-serving behavior, and citizens more prone to mistrust and improbable beliefs.

From Salon ● May 21, 2023

Cresswell almost dislocates his standing ankle, spinning a dipper over the near side of the wall, just under the bar, and into the vicinity of the top corner!

From The Guardian ● Apr. 3, 2022

Bellinger dislocates his shoulder after a home run.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2020

Haie laughs so much that he dislocates his jaw, and suddenly stands there helpless with his mouth wide open.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

Cardiff lock Teddy Williams, who made a welcome return from a dislocated right foot suffered in October, failed to gather the restart.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

The remaining bill of the year was for my 2-year-old’s emergency room visit for a dislocated elbow.

From Slate ● Apr. 25, 2026

“Woodside’s exposure provides greater optionality in a dislocated energy market particularly as it looks to sell-down equity interest in Louisiana LNG,” Citi adds, referring to its U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026

The feat was achieved without South Africa-born skipper Wayne Madsen, who dislocated his shoulder in the Scotland defeat.

From Barron's ● Feb. 13, 2026

Being at odds with the other arts was not the only aspect of the symphony that dislocated music from its time.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

“We see the shape of hiring changing some of these skills and backgrounds, but at the same time, we don’t see it dislocating the need for having great individuals with deep, critical-thinking skills,” Narayan said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

Olympic champion snowboarder Chloe Kim says she will be fit to compete at the Winter Olympic Games next month despite dislocating her shoulder last week.

From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2026

Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo faces a month on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder, the club said Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Dec. 3, 2025

The surgery, which tennis star Andy Murray also had, involves dislocating the upper end of the thighbone, trimming it, capping it and removing cartilage before putting it back in place.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 28, 2023

Alex hurled himself out of its path, once again crashing into the ground, almost dislocating his shoulder.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz