expropriate
verb (used with object)
to take possession of, especially for public use by the right of eminent domain, thus divesting the title of the private owner.
had expropriated
-
past perfectof expropriate.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Born in a household of relatively modest means, Crassus aligned himself with Roman dictator Sulla and grew rich by taking property Sulla had expropriated from his own political enemies.
From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2012
In March 2010 an arbitration panel in London had ruled that the Tbilisi government owed Fuchs and a Greek investing partner $98 million, plus interest, for an oil project Georgia had expropriated in the mid-1990s.
From BusinessWeek ● Feb. 24, 2011
He capped it off in 1940 by arranging a settlement between the Mexican Government and five companies whose oil the Mexicans had expropriated.
From Time Magazine Archive
