Synonyms

repossess

American

[ree-puh-zes] / ˌri pəˈzɛs /

verb (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.

repossess British

/ ˌriːpəˈzɛʃən, ˌriːpəˈzɛs /

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of repossess

First recorded in 1485–95; re- + possess

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.

Repossess, rē-poz-zes′, v.t. to possess again: to regain possession of.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023