dispossess Definition
- 1deprive (someone) of land, property, or other possessions
- 2take away something that someone has, especially their property
Using dispossess: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dispossess" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The government dispossessed the farmers of their land.
Example
He was dispossessed of his inheritance by his greedy relatives.
Example
The landlord tried to dispossess the tenant without proper notice.
Example
The court ordered the company to dispossess the illegal occupants of the building.
dispossess Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with dispossess
to give up or relinquish something that one owns or possesses
Example
She decided to dispossess herself of all her worldly possessions and join a religious order.
to take something away from someone, especially by force
Example
The robbers dispossessed him of his wallet and mobile phone.
dispossess somebody of their illusions
to make someone realize that their beliefs or hopes are mistaken or unfounded
Example
The harsh reality of life dispossessed him of his illusions about love and romance.
Origins of dispossess
from Old French 'despossesser', from Latin 'dis-' (expressing reversal) + 'possidere' (to possess)
Summary: dispossess in Brief
'Dispossess' [ˌdɪspəˈzes] means to take away someone's land, property, or other possessions. It can also mean to take away something that someone has, especially their property. Examples include 'The government dispossessed the farmers of their land.' and 'The landlord tried to dispossess the tenant without proper notice.' The phrase 'dispossess oneself of' means to give up or relinquish something that one owns or possesses.
