tr.v. dis·placed, dis·plac·ing, dis·plac·es 1. a. To move, shift, or force from the usual place or position: Wasn't the net displaced before the puck went in?
b. To force to leave a place of residence: The conflict displaced thousands of people.
2. To move or shift from the usual place or position, especially to force to leave a homeland or other place of residence: millions of refugees who were displaced by the war.
3. Chemistry To replace (an atom, radical, ion, or molecule) in a compound during a reaction.
4. Physics To push aside and occupy the physical space of (a volume of fluid, for example): a boat that displaces 1,000 cubic meters of water.
5. To take the place of; supplant: when coal displaced wood as the dominant energy source.
6. To discharge from a job, office, or position.