usurp

verb
UK: /juːˈzɜːp/
US: /juːˈsɜːrp/

  1. To take a position of power or importance illegally or by force

    1. He will usurp the king's throne.
    2. The rebels tried to usurp governmental control during the coup.

  2. To take someone else's power, position, job, etc. without having the right to do so

    1. Don't let him usurp your place.
    2. The younger son attempted to usurp his brother's inheritance.

  3. To take something that does not belong to you

    1. The company tried to usurp my idea.
    2. Advertisements can usurp our attention in public spaces.

Synonyms

seize supplant appropriate commandeer arrogate infringe preempt assume steal displace replace succeed oust overthrow wrest confiscate annex despoil expropriate plunder pilfer press encroach trespass violate command supersede substitute interlope subvert dispossess inherit convert reign rule grasp cling

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "usurp" in English means: To take a position of power or importance illegally or by force, To take someone else's power, position, job, etc. without having the right to do so, To take something that does not belong to you.

The phonetic transcription of "usurp" is /juːˈzɜːp/ in British English and /juːˈsɜːrp/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "usurp": seize, supplant, appropriate, commandeer, arrogate, infringe, preempt, assume, steal, displace, replace, succeed, oust, overthrow, wrest, confiscate, annex, despoil, expropriate, plunder, pilfer, press, encroach, trespass, violate, command, supersede, substitute, interlope, subvert, dispossess, inherit, convert, reign, rule, grasp, cling.

Example usage of "usurp": "He will usurp the king's throne.". More examples on the page.