Standard Lemma guide

prepossess

verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌpɹiːpəˈzɛs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˌpɹipəˈzɛs/
  • rhymes with -ɛs

1

verb

Meaning 1

Chiefly followed by by or with: to preoccupy (someone) in an emotional or mental way, so as to preclude other things.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cause (someone) to have a previous inclination against, for, or to something; to bias or prejudice; specifically, to induce in (someone) a favourable opinion beforehand, or at the outset.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To cause (someone) to think a certain way.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To occupy or possess (something) beforehand.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

Chiefly followed by of or with: to cause (oneself) to obtain possession of something beforehand, or ahead of someone else.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, reflexive, transitive

Qualifier: chiefly passive voice

Examples

  • to prepossess oneself of land

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

influence (somebody's) opinion in advance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: prejudice

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: influence, act upon, work

Narrower terms: bias, predetermine

7

verb

Meaning 7

make a positive impression (on someone) beforehand

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • A prepossessing appearance

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: impress

8

verb

Meaning 8

cause to be preoccupied

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The idea of his failure prepossesses him

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: preoccupy

9

verb

Meaning 9

possess beforehand

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: own, have, possess

History

Etymology

From pre- (prefix meaning ‘before, earlier in time’) + possess. Cognates * Late Latin prepossessus (“seized beforehand”)

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Greek: προκαταλαμβάνω (prokatalamváno) — to preoccupy (someone) in an emotional or mental way, so as to preclude other things
  • Russian: подкупа́ть (podkupátʹ) — to preoccupy (someone) in an emotional or mental way, so as to preclude other things
  • Russian: подкупи́ть (podkupítʹ) — to preoccupy (someone) in an emotional or mental way, so as to preclude other things