repossess

verb

re·​pos·​sess ˌrē-pə-ˈzes How to pronounce repossess (audio)
 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 How to pronounce repossess (audio)
 also  -ˈse-
noun
repossessor
ˌrē-pə-ˈze-sər How to pronounce repossess (audio)
 also  -ˈse-
noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The vehicle, however, had been repossessed overnight on Friday, Oct. 18. Marina Watts, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024 By that point, Exeter had already repossessed Wells’ car and auctioned it off. Byard Duncan, ProPublica, 17 Oct. 2024 GoFundMe, the website, said there's a 40 percent increase this year over last of people who are starting GoFundMe pages to prevent their cars from being repossessed and being evicted from their homes. ABC News, 6 Oct. 2024 More specialized data includes over the last two years who checked into a homeless shelter or a food bank, had a car repossessed, or had a home foreclosed. Emotivo Health, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for repossess 

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of repossess was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near repossess

Cite this Entry

“Repossess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repossess. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

repossess

verb
re·​pos·​sess ˌrē-pə-ˈzes How to pronounce repossess (audio)
: to regain or retake possession of
repossession noun

Legal Definition

repossess

transitive verb
re·​pos·​sess ˌrē-pə-ˈzes How to pronounce repossess (audio)
: 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 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on repossess

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!