evict

American  

[ih-vikt] / ɪˈvɪkt /

verb (used with object)

1. to expel (a person, especially a tenant) from land, a building, etc., by legal process, as for nonpayment of rent.

   Synonyms:

   dislodge , dispossess , remove , eject

2. to throw or force out, as from a place, organization, or position.

   He was evicted from office by a populist revolution.

3. to recover (property, titles, etc.) by virtue of superior legal title.

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evict British  

/ ɪˈvɪkt /

verb

1. to expel (a tenant) from property by process of law; turn out

2. to recover (property or the title to property) by judicial process or by virtue of a superior title

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Other Word Forms

• evictee noun
• eviction noun
• evictor noun
• reevict verb (used with object)
• unevicted adjective

Etymology

Origin of evict

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English evicten, from Late Latin ēvictus “having recovered one's property by law,” Latin: past participle of ēvincere “to overcome, conquer, evince,” equivalent to ē- “from, out of; thoroughly” + vic- (past participle stem of vincere “to conquer”) + -tus past participle suffix; evince, e- ¹, victor

Example Sentences

Perhaps that’s because state and city laws make it difficult to evict deadbeats.

From The Wall Street Journal

But with the late Queen's third child stripped of his titles and evicted from the royal residence, what does the future hold for the cottage - and could it even be returned to Wales?

From BBC

Ditto the city’s current rent regulation and a 2019 state law that requires landlords to demonstrate a “just cause” to evict tenants.

From The Wall Street Journal

Landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants for complaining about poor conditions.

From BBC

Landlords also may be more motivated to evict long-term tenants who fall behind on payments, so they can charge market rates to new tenants, said Phillips of UCLA.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chase
• dislodge
• dismiss
• dispossess
• eject
• expel
• force out
• oust
• remove