supplant

supplant — verb

1. to push the person or thing that currently holds a position out of that position

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to push the person or thing that currently holds a position out of that position and take it yourself, especially because you are newer, stronger, or more effective

Example

Talia's design was quickly supplanted by a cheaper and faster option.

passive: be supplanted by [something better]

The old wooden footbridge was supplanted by a steel structure last year.

Common collocations
  • supplanted by a newer version
  • supplanted by a younger person
  • gradually supplanted
  • supplant someone as president/leader/CEO
Synonyms
  • replace

    neutral and much more common; does not carry the sense of forcing out

  • displace

    similar to 'supplant' but often about physical movement rather than taking over a position

  • supersede

    more formal; often used for rules, systems, or technologies that become outdated

  • oust

    more forceful and direct; suggests being thrown out rather than gradually replaced

Antonyms
  • retain

    to keep someone or something in its position

  • preserve

    to keep something as it is, not allowing it to be replaced

Grammar Patterns

supplant + noun phrase

be supplanted by + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice with 'by' to show who or what is being replaced (e.g., 'was supplanted by'). The word carries a stronger meaning than 'replace' — it suggests the original person or thing was pushed out, not just swapped for something else.

Common Mistakes

I supplanted my old phone with a new one.
I replaced my old phone with a new one.
'supplant' sounds too strong and dramatic for routine personal purchases; use 'replace' instead.
The government supplanted the old law.
The government replaced the old law.
'supplant' implies forcing out by being stronger, not a normal legal process.

Word family

  • supplanter
    nounC1
  • supplanted
    adjectiveC1
  • supplanting
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Replace' is the most neutral and widely used word — you can replace a light bulb, a teacher, or a law. 'Supplant' is more dramatic: it suggests the original loses its position because the new person or thing is stronger or better, often with a sense of being pushed aside. 'Displace' focuses on physical removal or relocation — a flood displaces families, a new technology displaces workers. 'Supersede' is formal and fits systems, rules, or technologies that become outdated and are replaced by better ones. 'Oust' is the most forceful, implying a deliberate removal, often from a political role or job. For example: the new smartphone did not just replace older models — it gradually supplanted the very idea of a separate camera and music player.

replace ↗displace ↗supersedeoust

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • supplant someone as something
  • be supplanted by something

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Supplant comes from the Latin verb 'supplantare', which originally meant 'to trip up' — formed from 'sub-' (under) and 'planta' (the sole of the foot). The image was of putting your foot under someone's to make them fall. By the 1500s, the word had shifted from physical tripping to the idea of overthrowing or replacing someone through strategy or force.