usurp
Americanverb (used with object)
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to seize and hold (a position, office, power, etc.) by force or without legal right.
The pretender tried to usurp the throne.
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to use without authority or right; employ wrongfully.
The magazine usurped copyrighted material.
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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usurpationnoun
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usurpernoun
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self-usurpverb (used without object)
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nonusurpingadjective
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unusurpingadjective
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usurpativeadjective
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nonusurpinglyadverb
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usurpinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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usurpsimple
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usurpssimple
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have usurpedperfect
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has usurpedperfect
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am usurpingprogressive
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are usurpingprogressive
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is usurpingprogressive
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have been usurpingperfect progressive
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has been usurpingperfect progressive
Past
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usurpedsimple
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had usurpedperfect
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was usurpingprogressive
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were usurpingprogressive
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had been usurpingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of usurp
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin ūsūrpāre “to take possession through use,” equivalent to ūsū (ablative of ūsus “act of using, employment” ( see use) + -rp-, reduced form of -rip-, combining form of rapere “to seize” + -āre infinitive ending
Explanation
If you take over your neighbor's backyard and claim his in-ground swimming pool as your own, you might seize control of, or usurp his yard, but he'll probably call the cops on you. Leaders who usurp power don't ask for permission to take control of their country. They seize power, often with the help of a large army of followers. A usurper doesn't have to be human. A brand-new radio station can usurp the most popular station in town by playing a better mix of music.
Vocabulary lists containing usurp
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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.
See Examples For:
There is also the strained relationship with her friend-turned-stepmother Alicent, who helped usurp Rhaenyra’s throne.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
They are, er, not wholly convinced that there's a level playing field when the east coast is threatening to usurp a giant from the west.
From BBC ● May 13, 2026
The parties initially weren’t divided over Korea, and Truman didn’t usurp the legislative branch’s power to authorize war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026
Nancy suffered a fifth defeat in seven games since taking charge of the Scottish champions as Celtic missed the chance to usurp Hearts at the top of the table.
From Barron's ● Dec. 30, 2025
“Which gives the Erudite and the Allegiant a common goal: to usurp Evelyn.”
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
A clairvoyant slowly usurps the estate of a distinguished Viennese family by selling them her dreams.
From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2023
The filing also argues that the federal government’s refusal to surrender Hanson usurps the state’s authority.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 27, 2022
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Palin said: “This is a jury trial. We always thank jurors. We always appreciate the system. So whatever happened in there kind of usurps the system.”
From Washington Post ● Feb. 14, 2022
Unrest swells in an African township when a government officer usurps power from a local policeman.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2020
In some ways, she thinks he usurps what should be her role.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
This year, the benchmark index has slumped 29% so far as worries about tariffs were usurped by the war in the Middle East and fiscal concerns deepened.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Ultimately, society’s ingrained fear of missing out on making money will be usurped by the fear of losing money.
From Barron's ● Apr. 15, 2026
While leading tennis pros still command huge attention, there is a perception that golfers have been usurped by female footballers and basketball luminaries such as the Indiana guard Caitlin Clark.
From BBC ● May 29, 2025
Between 2010 and 2020, medical debt usurped nonmedical debt as the largest source of Americans’ debt in collections, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine.
From Salon ● Dec. 10, 2024
José Arcadio continued to profit from the usurped lands, the title to which was recognized by the Conservative government.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Apple had previously drawn close to usurping Nvidia by market value earlier this month.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Instead he adopts St. Augustine’s anthropology and depicts the new seekers of the City of Man usurping the old believers in the City of God.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026
Once Will joins the team, a “never meet your heroes” lesson ensues, since Jett feels like he’s usurping her position.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2026
"It would mean the court usurping and interfering with the decision of a locally elected chamber," the barrister added.
From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2025
It would not do to make him feel as if his mother were usurping his place.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
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.
