repossess
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 with of): In 1814, a coalition of European powers defeated Napoleon and repossessed the ousted Bourbons of their throne.
Origin of repossess
1Other words from repossess
- re·pos·sess·a·ble, adjective
- re·pos·ses·sion [ree-puh-zesh-uhn], /ˌri pəˈzɛʃ ən/, noun
- re·pos·ses·sor, noun
- un·re·pos·sessed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use repossess in a sentence
Matthews’ car was repossessed after she couldn’t keep up with payments.
‘We are struggling’: Unemployed Americans face a bleak Christmas | Lee Clifford | December 24, 2020 | FortuneTwo people were attempting to repossess a vehicle at a residence when the owner exited his house and threatened them with a handgun.
His life had been so long empty that it was enough to dwell on the great happiness of his repossession.
The Happy End | Joseph HergesheimerFrémont dispossessed their agent and they failed to gain repossession, the courts deciding that Pico had no right to sell.
The Old Franciscan Missions Of California | George Wharton JamesAlonzos father was soon in complete repossession of his former property.
Alonzo and Melissa | Daniel Jackson, Jr.
For a time I did not reflect that to hold it thus in my hand was not sufficient to entitle me to repossession.
Arthur Mervyn | Charles Brockden BrownRed tape might prevent repossession of the original, but he was using his influence to obtain a copy.
For the School Colours | Angela Brazil
British Dictionary definitions for repossess
/ (ˌriːpəˈzɛs) /
to take back possession of (property), esp for nonpayment of money due under a hire-purchase agreement
to restore ownership of (something) to someone
Derived forms of repossess
- repossession (ˌriːpəˈzɛʃən), noun
- repossessor, noun
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
Browse