oust

verb \ˈau̇st\

: to cause or force (someone or something) to leave a position of power, a competition, etc.

: to take the place of (someone or something)

Full Definition of OUST

transitive verb

a : to remove from or dispossess of property or position by legal action, by force, or by the compulsion of necessity

b : to take away (as a right or authority) : bar, remove

: to take the place of : supplant

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Origin of OUST

Middle English, from Anglo-French oster, ouster to take off, remove, oust, from Late Latin obstare to ward off, from Latin, to stand in the way, from ob- in the way + stare to stand — more at ob-, stand

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to OUST

Synonyms: banish, boot (out), bounce, cast out, chase, dismiss, drum (out), expel, extrude, kick out, eject, out, rout, run off, throw out, turf (out) [chiefly British], turn out

Antonyms: crown, enthrone, throne

Synonym Discussion of OUST

eject, expel, oust, evict mean to drive or force out. eject carries an especially strong implication of throwing or thrusting out from within as a physical action <ejected an obnoxious patron from the bar>. expel stresses a thrusting out or driving away especially permanently which need not be physical <a student expelled from college>. oust implies removal or dispossession by power of the law or by force or compulsion <police ousted the squatters>. evict chiefly applies to turning out of house and home <evicted for nonpayment of rent>.