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

• get back
• re-collect
• reacquire
• recapture
• reclaim
• recoup
• recover
• regain
• retake
• retrieve

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

If Tesla stock keeps crashing, the banks/creditors could repossess Twitter. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025

The victim was attempting to repossess a black Nissan Ultima and a BMW, according to police. —Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025

Denise wondered how Sami could let her car get repossessed happened again. —Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025

It has been reported that during the Great Depression, Deere and Company never repossessed any equipment from American farmers. —David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2024

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