repossess
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to regain ownership of; to take back, especially for failure to make due payment.
After the first few payments, the buyer defaulted on the contract, and we were forced to repossess the piano.
-
to give (someone) ownership of something again; restore something to (used withof ).
In 1814, a coalition of European powers defeated Napoleon and repossessed the ousted Bourbons of their throne.
verb
-
to take back possession of (property), esp for nonpayment of money due under a hire-purchase agreement
-
to restore ownership of (something) to someone
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of repossess
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.
When borrowers default or people can no longer justify maintenance fees, timeshare operators can repossess or cheaply buy back their vacation ownership.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
Allowing the lender to repossess the vehicle is one option.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 29, 2025
Seeking to repossess a home is "always a last resort" for lenders, said Karina Hutchins, a principal in the mortgage policy team at UK Finance, a trade association for the banking and financial services sector.
From BBC • Nov. 18, 2025
Hankey has said the goal is to stop loans from going bad, not repossess vehicles, which is costly.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2024
If you got a note on your car, they gone repossess it.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
