repossess

verb

re·​pos·​sess ˌrē-pə-ˈzes 

 also  -ˈses

repossessed; repossessing; repossesses

transitive verb

1

a

: to regain possession of

b

: to take possession of (something bought) from a buyer in default of the payment of installments due

2

: to restore to possession

repossession

ˌrē-pə-ˈze-shən 

 also  -ˈse-

noun

repossessor

ˌrē-pə-ˈze-sər 

 also  -ˈse-

noun

Synonyms

• retrieve
• regain
• recapture
• reclaim
• recover

Examples of repossess in a Sentence

The bank repossessed her truck.

if you don't pay off the loan, the bank will come and repossess your car

Recent Examples on the Web

In that case, the victim was attempting to repossess a Cadillac over an outstanding $2,000 debt, police said. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 July 2025

It was forced to drop its Orlando service when three of its planes were repossessed by their owner. —David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2025

In the original movie, Adam Sandler plays a wannabe ice hockey star whose grandmother's house is repossessed by the IRS. —Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 24 July 2025

That’s not a deal, that’s like cutting a deal to buy a car, and then long after the price has been paid, the Republicans want to come and repossess the tires. —Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 23 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for repossess

• abs
• acquiesce
• ancestress
• authoress
• coalesce
• decompress
• dispossess
• faithfulness
• letterpress
• mayoress
• murderess
• nonetheless

Kids Definition

repossess

verb

re·​pos·​sess ˌrē-pə-ˈzes 

: to regain or retake possession of

repossession

-ˈzesh-ən 

noun

Legal Definition

repossess

transitive verb

re·​pos·​sess ˌrē-pə-ˈzes 

: to regain possession of

especially : to take possession of again by judicial process or self-help upon default of the payment of installments due compare foreclose, seize sense 2

repossessor

-ˈze-sər 

noun