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Definition of repossess

repossess

/ˌriːpəˈzɛs/
re · pos · sess
Adjective:repossessive
•
Past Simple:repossessed
•
Past Participle:repossessed
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Present Participle:repossessing
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repossess Lexical Profile

repossess Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To retake possession of property or goods from a buyer who has defaulted on scheduled loan or installment payments.

Example

"The bank threatened to repossess his car after he missed three consecutive monthly payments."

2

To regain or recover possession, ownership, or control of something.

Example

"After years of legal disputes, the family finally managed to repossess their ancestral estate."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for repossess

• Rhymes for repossess

• Nearby Words

repose
reposition
repository
repossess
repossession
repossessor
repost

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the late 15th century from the prefix re- ('back, again') and possess, ultimately from Latin possidere ('to hold, occupy, or be master of'). The modern financial sense of seizing goods after defaulted payments became prominent in the 1920s.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Repossess. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/repossess
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