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

Penn complained, arguing the law prohibits repossessing a car with someone inside, and demanded $150,000 in compensation. —Tony Schick, ProPublica, 3 Oct. 2025

Inter reaching two Champions League finals in the past three seasons is nothing short of miraculous — particularly given the club got repossessed by the investment firm Oaktree just over a year ago. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

Lenders repossessed 3,866 homes in July, 1 percent fewer than in June—but 18 percent more than a year earlier. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025

While laws vary by state, the fundamental principle — that property may be repossessed for unpaid obligations — is widely accepted. —Ronny Maye, Essence, 21 Aug. 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