repossess

verb re·pos·sess \ ˌrē-pə-ˈzes also -ˈses \

|Updated on: 2 Aug 2018

Examples: repossess in a Sentence

Definition of repossess

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

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repossession

play \ˌrē-pə-ˈze-shən also -ˈse-\ noun

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repossessor

play \ˌrē-pə-ˈze-sər also -ˈse-\ noun

See repossess defined for English-language learners

See repossess defined for kids

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 of repossess from the Web

Sorry to Bother You, which opens in multiple cities July 6, stars Atlanta’s Lakeith Stanfield as Cassius, a young man who takes a job at a telemarketing firm to help save his uncle’s (Terry Crews) house from being repossessed.

— joseph bien-kahn, WIRED, "Radical As Ever, Boots Riley Takes On the Tech Boom," 4 July 2018
The tow truck owner was described as a husband, father, and grandfather who frequently worked with Moczygemba repossessing vehicles.

— jay r. jordan, Houston Chronicle, "Police: Carjacking suspect kills owner, leads pursuit to Sugar Land," 7 July 2018
By 2014, when no other option existed than to repossess his cows, the Bureau of Land Management handed down orders to impound them.

— leah sottile, Longreads, "Bundyville Chapter One: A War in the Desert," 15 May 2018
There were no suspects identified and officers did not suspect the vehicle had been repossessed.

— andy attina / cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Woman arrested after fight at hospital: Richmond Heights Police Blotter," 25 Apr. 2018
The bank said the policies could have contributed to about 27,000 customers having their cars repossessed after defaulting on their loans.

— matthew goldstein, New York Times, "Wells Fargo Pays $1 Billion to Federal Regulators," 20 Apr. 2018
The dispute between the churches and the Israeli authorities also involves proposed legislation aimed at repossessing large tracts of land leased by the Greek Orthodox Church to the Israeli government nearly 70 years ago.

— ruth eglash, Washington Post, "Sacred Jerusalem church to reopen after Israel backtracks on taxing properties," 27 Feb. 2018
Last year, 20,280 borrowers had their cars repossessed out of 118,431 outstanding title loans, the report said.

— carolyn said, SFChronicle.com, "Pink-slip car loans: Quick cash, high price tag," 21 June 2018
What’s more, title lenders repossessed 20,280 cars last year and even more the year before.

— james rufus koren, latimes.com, "Bills headed for state Senate would put limits on payday, auto-title lending," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'repossess.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of repossess

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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repossess Synonyms

REPOSSESS Defined for English Language Learners

repossess

verb

Definition of repossess for English Language Learners

: to take (something) back from a buyer because payments are not being made

Law Dictionary

repossess

transitive verb re·pos·sess \ ˌrē-pə-ˈzes \

legal Definition of repossess

: 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 2

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