oust
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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to force out of a position or place; supplant or expel
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property law to deprive (a person) of the possession of land
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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oustsimple
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oustssimple
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have oustedperfect
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has oustedperfect
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am oustingprogressive
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are oustingprogressive
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is oustingprogressive
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have been oustingperfect progressive
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has been oustingperfect progressive
Past
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oustedsimple
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had oustedperfect
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was oustingprogressive
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were oustingprogressive
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had been oustingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of oust
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Anglo-French ouster “to remove,” Old French oster, from Latin obstāre “to stand in the way, oppose” ( ob- ob- + stāre “to stand ”)
Explanation
A teacher may oust you from class if you are being disruptive, or you might oust your class president from her position if you beat her in the election. To oust is to “expel,” “kick out,” or “remove and replace.” When you oust someone, you are “giving them the boot.” A sports team is ousted from a tournament if they lose an elimination round. Oust often implies both removal and replacement. The automobile, for instance, ousted the horse as the preferred means of travel. Likewise, when a politician ousts someone from office they are taking that person’s place in office. And if you beat the all-time record in a hot-dog eating tournament, then you oust the previous record holder from their position.
Vocabulary lists containing oust
A Long Way Gone
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100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
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This Week in Words: November 10 - 16, 2018
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Look at what’s been happening with Artificial, the Luca Guadagnino–directed movie about OpenAI’s failed attempt in late 2023 to oust CEO Sam Altman, played here by Andrew Garfield.
From Slate • Jul. 2, 2026
Meanwhile, in north west England, Labour's Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is widely anticipated to launch a bid to oust Starmer as prime minister if he wins the Makerfield by-election.
From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026
He also faces the possible return to parliament of a rival who may seek to oust him.
From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026
Krause, long a Paxton ally, joined the growing list of primary challengers seeking to oust the incumbent.
From Salon • May 23, 2026
Reiterating that police had framed him as a part of a drive to oust Communists from Chicago, Erlone demanded that the charges upon which he had been originally held be made public.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
