unseat

verb

un·​seat ˌən-ˈsēt How to pronounce unseat (audio)
unseated; unseating; unseats
Synonyms of unseatnext

transitive verb

1
: to dislodge from one's seat especially on horseback
2
: to remove from a place or position
especially : to remove from political office

Synonyms of unseat

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Examples of unseat in a Sentence

He unseated an incumbent senator. The horse bucked and unseated its rider.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The gerrymandering effort aimed at unseating Cleaver also affected Alford’s district, giving him much more of Kansas City’s urban core to win over. — Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026 Jackson, however, faces a steep task to unseat Collins, who has been a senator since 1997. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2026 Season 2 picks up six months after the first, with rancher Staten fighting to reclaim his legacy after being unseated as trustee of his family's ranch, while Quinn returns from a New York opportunity only to complicate their reunion further. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026 Lambert didn’t miss enough bats or show enough to unseat any of the starting pitchers ahead of him in Houston’s hierarchy. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unseat

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unseat was in 1596

Rhymes for unseat

See All Rhymes for unseat

Browse Nearby Words

unseasoned
unseat
unseaworthiness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unseat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unseat. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unseat

verb
un·​seat ˌən-ˈsēt How to pronounce unseat (audio)
ˈən-
1
: to throw from one's seat especially on horseback
2
: to remove from a place or position
especially : to remove from political office

More from Merriam-Webster on unseat

Nglish: Translation of unseat for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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