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 of repossess

• 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

The car was repossessed by the Rambo Motor Company. —Kevin Foster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026

After one was repossessed and the other turned into the dealer, her tags weren't returned. —Tara Lynch, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026

Earlier this week, a judgment was entered in favor of the landlord after the 73-year-old actor did not respond to the complaint, according to People, which first reported the news, and the landlord repossessed the property. —James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026

Cars are being repossessed at the highest rate since the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009. —Matt Egan, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026

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