Definition of "unseat"
unseat
verb
third-person singular simple present unseats, present participle unseating, simple past and past participle unseated
(transitive) To dislodge or remove (someone) from a seat, especially on horseback.
Quotations
VVhom boldly I encountred (as I could) / And by good fortune ſhortly him vnſeated. / Eftſoones out ſprung two more of equall mould; / But I them both with equall hap defeated: […]
1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, stanza 10, page 141
But Conſtantine [the Great] […] diſplaced and unſeated this huge maſſe [an obelisk], yea, and thinking truly, that it vvas no breach nor offence of religion, if taking this admirable monument out of one temple, he conſecrated it in Rome, that is to ſay, the temple of the vvhole vvorld, ſuffered it to lye a long time, vvhiles neceſſarie meanes for the tranſlation thereof vvere a providing.
1609, Ammianus Marcellinus, “[The XVII. Booke.] Chapter III. A Long Narration as Touching the Obeliske, which was Erected in the Greatest Shew-place at Rome.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Roman Historie, […], London: […] Adam Jslip, page 84
His horſe, as he had caught he maſter's mood, / Snorting, and ſtarting into ſudden rage, / Unbidden, and not novv to be controul'd, / Rusſh'd to the cliff, and having reach'd it, ſtood / At once the shock unſeated him.
1785, William Cowper, “Book VI. The Winter Walk at Noon.”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], page 259
He had another formidable difficulty in getting him across the river, where both horses stuck for a time in the mire, and Beatte was nearly unseated from his saddle by the force of the current and the struggles of his captive.
1835, [Washington Irving], chapter XX, in A Tour on the Prairies (The Crayon Miscellany; no. 1), Philadelphia, Pa.: [Henry Charles] Carey, [Isaac] Lea, & Blanchard, page 151
On Thursday, You Take the Cake, after finishing third in a low-level sprint, fell to the ground and unseated her rider, Wilmer Garcia.
2015 January 16, Joe Drape, “Horses’ deaths at aqueduct prompt new rules”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, archived from the original on 2023-02-07
As his front wheel clips a tree the bike breaks into a jarring 180 degree spin violently unseating the rider.
2019 September 6, John Bennett, “Bark worse than bike! BMX racer ploughs head-first into tree during high-speed mountain trail”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, archived from the original on 2023-03-06
The Fountain of Youth race had a spill coming into the stretch when High Oak and Galt clipped heels, unseating both jockeys and sending both horses to the ground.
2022 March 5, John Cherwa, “Richard Mandella back in Kentucky Derby picture after Forbidden Kingdom’s win”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, archived from the original on 2022-05-17
(transitive, figuratively)
To remove (someone) from an office or position, especially a political one; to dethrone.
Quotations
And thus thoſe Forts vvhich vvere erected to defend the Crovvne, firſt offended the King, ſome fevv vvhereof as he recouered, he flatted to the ground, and vviſhed the other not higher vvalls; ſtill ſvvearing by Gods Birth (his vſuall Oath) hee vvould not ſlightly bee vnſeated of his Crovvne, and vvondring vvhat ſhould mooue them, vvho had ſo readilie aduanced him, ſo ſpeedily to vnſtate him.
1623, Iohn Speed [i.e., John Speed], “Stephen, the Two and Fortieth Monarch of the Englishmen: His Raigne, Acts, and Issue”, in The Historie of Great Britaine under the Conquests of the Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Iohn Beale, for George Humble, […], book 9, page 487, column 1
But notvvithſtanding all theſe endeavours of theirs, the nine aforementioned VVorthies are reſolved not to part ſo tamely from their Commands, but having made their party as ſtrong as they could, reſolved next morning to unſeat the Parliament once more; […]
1661, J[ohn] D[avies], chapter CVIII, in The Civil Warres of Great Britain and Ireland. […], London: […] R. W. for Philip Chetwind, […], page 371
We carried through our man with great eclat, though protests were taken by the other candidate against so many of our votes, that, had one third of the exceptions held good, it was clear the Governor must be unseated.
1834 September, [Christian Isobel Johnstone], “The Experiences of Richard Taylor, Esq. Chapter VIII.—Governor Fox.—Part II.”, in William Tait, editor, Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume I, number VIII, Edinburgh: W. Tait, pages 540–541
As a result, the anti-Bismarck circles are encouraged in their hope of at length unseating the everlasting chancellor.
1927 October, Emil Ludwig, chapter VII, in Eden Paul, Cedar Paul, transl., Bismarck: The Story of a Fighter, New York, N.Y.: Blue Ribbon Books, published February 1932, book 4 (1872–1888: The Ruler), page 459
In securing the top spot, the song unseats Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's hit WAP, a not-safe-for-work track that held No 1 for two weeks.
2020 September 1, “BTS: K-pop stars become first all-South Korean act to top US singles charts”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, archived from the original on 2023-01-02
If Democratic nominee Joe Biden unseats Mr [Donald] Trump, but fails to gain the Senate, he could be left unable to pass legislation important to his presidency – on issues such as healthcare, climate change and immigration.
2020 October 31, Verity Bowman, “Donald Trump and Joe Biden updates ahead of polling day”, in Chris Evans, editor, The Daily Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group, archived from the original on 2021-07-27
[Lael] Brainard, the only Democrat on the Fed's board, was once the top contender to unseat Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell.
2022 January 13, Rachel Siegel, “Brainard questioned on inflation, climate risk issues as part of nomination to become Fed’s second-in-command”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, archived from the original on 2022-01-25
Newly elected Conservative Mayor of Bedford Tom Wootton has promised to "hold East West Rail to account" over the sale of homes along the route. Wootton, who won the election on May 7 after unseating his LibDem predecessor by 145 votes, centred his campaign on his opposition to EWR's 'northern route' to Cambridge, which was announced as the preferred one after the election […]
2023 June 28, “Network News: Bedford Mayor Opposes East West Rail over Value of Houses on Route”, in Rail, number 986, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, page 17
To cause (something) to be removed or replaced in its role; to displace, to overturn.
Quotations
Eleanor sank upon his bosom, and sobbed as if her heart were bursting with its transport; and poor Susan laughed and wept alternately, till Mr. Blandley, who by this time had heard of the occurrence and reached the court-room, was fearful that her reason would be totally unseated.
1829, William Leggett, Tales and Sketches, New York, N.Y.: J. & J. Harper, page 81
"I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. / "God knows I have!—a trouble which is enough to unseat my reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. […]
1892 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet”, in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, London: George Newnes, […], published 1892 October 14, page 263
Robespierre concluded that Danton and Desmoulins were bent on unseating and putting an end to the Committee. He concluded that he would never be safe as long as these old friends of his were alive.
1975, Will Durant, The Story of Civilization, Volume 11: The Age of Napoleon, New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, page 76
Despite all the various attempts to unseat the keyboard, it has proven remarkably resilient, because computers are still largely vehicles for the written word, and half that battle is writing and editing.
2010 September 20, Alexis C. Madrigal, “Netbooks Versus the iPad for Work Travel”, in The Atlantic, Washington, D.C.: The Atlantic Monthly Group, archived from the original on 2023-03-06
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is trying to put together a national sports network to rival ESPN, a daunting task, but then, the company does have a history of unseating cable rivals.
2012 March 28, Eric Randall, “Rupert Murdoch Wants to Tackle Cable Sports”, in The Atlantic, Washington, D.C.: The Atlantic Monthly Group, archived from the original on 2021-06-19
It was harrowing to watch him change in these ways, and it completely unseated my view that everyone has a "fixed" personality. My father's behaviour showed, shockingly, that personality is just a function, or malfunction, of neurology.
2012 August 17, Arifa Akbar, “Dealing with dementia: ‘My dad was treated like lost luggage on a carousel’”, in The Independent, London: Independent Digital News & Media Ltd, archived from the original on 2022-07-08
If search bots make enough errors, then, rather than increasing trust with their conversational ability, they have the potential to unseat users' perceptions of search engines as impartial arbiters of truth, [Aleksandra] Urman says.
2023 February 13, Chris Stokel-Walker, “AI chatbots are coming to search engines — can you trust the results?”, in Nature, London: Nature Portfolio, archived from the original on 2023-02-22
To upset the composure of (someone); to astound, to shock, to unsettle.
Quotations
"Heart up, heart up, my boy!" he exclaimed. "The horrors of war must not unseat a soldier thus"—but the other interrupted him, muttering huskily: / "You did not see—not recognise?" and as he spoke the astonishment on his face was accompanied by a look of almost awestruck unbelief.
1897, John Bloundelle-Burton, The Clash Of Arms: A Romance, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton and Company, page 49
Thereafter he held his peace, protesting not at all when it was generally agreed that the collapse of certain squalid brick houses in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, and the consequent death of many brave officers, had unseated his nervous equilibrium.
1925, H[oward] P[hilips] Lovecraft, “The Horror at Red Hook”, in The H. P. Lovecraft Collection, London: Arcturus Publishing, published 2016, page 266
Your telegram rather unseated me. I was under the impression that if I found a bargain in a place to stay, you would still come.
1937 January 8, Harry [S. Truman], edited by Robert Hugh Ferrell, Dear Bess: The Letters from Harry to Bess Truman, 1910-1959, New York, N.Y., London: W. W. Norton & Company, published 1983, page 392
Sensing the sincerity in the question and wanting to be courteous, but overwhelmed by trying to put the richness I had always been blessed with "down there" into quick words, I could only mumble something about yes, there's a beautiful river down there, although the question so unseated me I'm not sure what I said.
1995, Ann Zwinger, Downcanyon: A Naturalist Explores the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, Tucson, A.Z.: University of Arizona Press, page 237
In this manner, I underwent a series of profound spiritual experiences that utterly unseated me and filled my consciousness with a dimension of knowledge I never knew existed.
2008, Michael Wombacher, 11 Days at the Edge: One Man's Spiritual Journey into Evolutionary Enlightenment, Forres, Scotland: Findhorn Press, page 2
Ahead of the film's July 1 premiere, Collider had the opportunity to speak with [Sope] Dìrísù about starring in the Regency-era romance feature — he reprises his role from the short film that was made in 2019, also directed by [Emma Holly] Jones — and how he approached playing a character with a pragmatic approach to love who then finds himself thoroughly unseated by it by the end of the story.
2022 July 5, Carly Lane, “'Mr. Malcolm's List': Sope Dirisu on Reading Jane Austen as Research and Performing the Dance Scene”, in Collider, archived from the original on 2022-10-07
"Thomasin [McKenzie] unseated me everyday with the depth of her talent," [Anne] Hathaway says. She and McKenzie got to know each other a bit before filming, establishing a dynamic which intriguingly mirrored the one we see in the movie.
2023 January 19, David Canfield, “Inside ’’Eileen’’, a Gorgeously Strange Ottessa Moshfegh Adaptation”, in Radhika Jones, editor, Vanity Fair, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast, archived from the original on 2023-02-02
(intransitive, technical) To come off or out of a seat.
Quotations
When the pump plunger is moved upward, the flat on top of the cup unseats from the flat on the plunger head and allows free movement of fuel through the inside of the cup into the bottom of the pump well.
1969, Guy F. Wetzel, Automotive Diagnosis and Tune-Up, 5th edition, Bloomington, I.L.: McKnight Publishing Company, page 399