displace
displace — 動詞
1. to force something out of its original position or place, often through physical
移動；移開
用力量使物體離開原來位置
to force something out of its original position or place, often through physical pressure, movement, or natural forces.
The earthquake displaced huge rocks along the mountain road, blocking traffic for hours.
地震將巨大的岩石沿山路移動，導致交通阻塞了數小時。
displaced + concrete object + natural force subject
Water from the burst pipe displaced the soil beneath the shed, causing it to tilt.
爆裂水管流出的水移動了小屋下方的土壤，使小屋傾斜。
A thick layer of sediment displaced the river, carving a new channel through the valley.
厚厚一層沉積物改變了河流的河道，在山谷中沖出了一條新水道。
The landslide displaced several large boulders onto the railway tracks near the station.
山崩將好幾塊巨石推移到車站附近的鐵軌上。
When the glacier melted, it displaced enough water to reshape the coastline of the bay.
冰川融化時，移動了足夠的水量，重塑了海灣的海岸線。
文法句型
displace + object
be displaced + by + noun
用法筆記
Object is usually a physical thing (rock, soil, water, furniture). Subject is often a natural force or mechanical pressure. Frequently used in passive voice with 'by' to show the cause of movement.
常見錯誤
2. to take the place of someone or something, especially when a newer or more effec
取代；替代
新的事物或人取代原有者
to take the place of someone or something, especially when a newer or more effective thing or person pushes the older one out of use or position.
Digital cameras have largely displaced film cameras in consumer photography.
數位相機已在消費攝影領域大幅取代了底片相機。
technology displaces older technology
Electric vehicles are gradually displacing petrol-powered cars in urban areas.
電動車正逐漸在都市地區取代汽油車。
The new department head displaced the previous manager after the company restructured.
公司在重組後，新的部門主管取代了前任經理。
Online streaming services have displaced traditional television among younger viewers.
串流影音服務已取代傳統電視，成為年輕觀眾的主要選擇。
Convenience-store sushi has displaced many small lunch stalls in the business district.
便利商店的壽司已經取代了商業區許多小型午餐攤位。
文法句型
displace + noun
be displaced + by + noun
用法筆記
Subject is often a newer technology, product, method, or person. The thing being displaced is the older, less efficient, or less popular alternative. Can be used with both concrete objects (products) and abstract ones (methods, practices). Frequently passive.
常見錯誤
3. to force people to leave their homes or native area, usually because of war, nat
迫遷；流離
因戰爭或災難迫使居民離開家園
to force people to leave their homes or native area, usually because of war, natural disaster, development projects, or environmental change.
The civil war displaced thousands of families from their homes and villages.
內戰迫使數千個家庭逃離家園和村莊。
war as cause of displacement
Rising sea levels have displaced coastal communities in several Pacific island nations.
海平面上升迫使太平洋數個島國的沿海社區遷離家園。
The construction of the new dam displaced entire villages that had stood for centuries.
新建水壩的工程迫使數個存在了數百年的村莊遷離。
Conflict in the region displaced over a million people last year, aid agencies reported.
據救援組織報告，去年該地區的衝突迫使超過一百萬人逃離家園。
Prolonged drought and crop failure displaced farming families across the Sahel region.
長期的乾旱與農作物歉收迫使薩赫爾地區的農民家庭離開家園。
文法句型
displace + people/population
be displaced + from + location
用法筆記
Subject is typically a large-scale force (war, disaster, development). The objects are groups of people — families, communities, populations. Commonly followed by 'from + location.' This sense of displace is distinct from 'dismiss from a job' (sense 4) — here the focus is on losing one's home, not one's employment. The related noun 'displaced person' is a formal term used by humanitarian organisations.
常見錯誤
4. to remove someone from a job or position, especially when a change in the organi
解僱；裁撤
因組織變動而免去員工職位
to remove someone from a job or position, especially when a change in the organisation or the economy makes their role unnecessary.
The company displaced fifty workers when it moved its factory overseas.
該公司將工廠遷至海外時，解僱了五十名員工。
company displaces workers via relocation
Automation has displaced many cashiers and ticket-collectors in the retail sector.
自動化已導致零售業許多收銀員和售票員失業。
Younger graduates often displace older employees during company restructuring.
公司重整時，年輕的畢業生往往取代年長員工的職位。
The factory closure displaced hundreds of skilled machinists without warning.
工廠關閉時毫無預警地裁撤了數百名熟練的機械技師。
After the merger, the new director displaced the entire regional management team.
併購之後，新任總監撤換了整個區域管理團隊。
文法句型
displace + worker/employee
be displaced + from + position
用法筆記
Subject is usually a company, a change in business structure, or a new person in authority. The person displaced is typically an employee or office-holder. This sense overlaps with sense 2 (take the place of) but is narrower — it specifically involves employment and often carries a more negative, impersonal tone. The object is always a person or group of workers, never a technology or product.