dis·place / disˈplās/ • v. [tr.] take over the place, position, or role of (someone or something): in the northern states of India, Hindi has largely displaced English. ∎  cause (something) to move from its proper or usual place: he seems to have displaced some vertebrae. ∎  (usu. be displaced) force (someone) to leave their home, typically because of war, persecution, or natural disaster: thousands of people have been displaced by the civil war. ∎  remove (someone) from a job or position of authority against their will: his aides were discredited and displaced.

displace XVI. DIS- 3.