Standard Lemma guide

repossess

verb · 4 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.

  • /ˌriːpəˈzɛs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY2 P AH0 Z EH1 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, finance, law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To gain back possession of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, reflexive

Examples

  • to repossess oneself of something lost

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

regain possession of something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: take back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: take

4

verb

Meaning 4

claim back

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reclaim

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: get, acquire

Narrower terms: distrain, foreclose

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English possess English repossess From re- + possess.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ulosmitata — To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due
  • Hungarian: végrehajt — To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due
  • Hungarian: visszavesz — To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due
  • Māori: taumanu — To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due
  • Polish: odzyskiwać własność — To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due
  • Polish: odzyskać własność — To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due
  • Scottish Gaelic: ath-shealbhaich — To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due
  • Spanish: reivindicar — To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due
  • Spanish: reposeer — To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due
  • Swedish: återta — To reclaim ownership of property for which payment remains due