possess

[ puh-zes ]

/ pəˈzɛs /

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See synonyms for: possess / possessed / possesses / possessing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to have as belonging to one; have as property; own: to possess a house and a car.

to have as a faculty, quality, or the like: to possess courage.

(of a spirit, especially an evil one) to occupy, dominate, or control (a person) from within: He thought he was possessed by devils.

(of a feeling, idea, etc.) to dominate or actuate in the manner of such a spirit: He was possessed by envy.

(of a man) to succeed in having sexual intercourse with.

to have knowledge of: to possess a language.

to keep or maintain (oneself, one's mind, etc.) in a certain state, as of peace, patience, etc.

to maintain control over (oneself, one's mind, etc.).

to impart to; inform; familiarize (often followed by of or with): to possess someone of the facts of the case.

to cause to be dominated or influenced, as by an idea, feeling, etc.

to make (someone) owner, holder, or master, as of property, information, etc.: He possessed them of the facts.

to seize or take.

to gain or win.

to occupy or hold.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of possess

1425–75; late Middle English possesen<Middle French possess(i)er, noun derivative of possessionpossession

synonym study for possess

1. See have.

OTHER WORDS FROM possess

pos·ses·sor, nounpos·ses·sor·ship, nounun·der·pos·ses·sor, nounun·pos·sess·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use possess in a sentence

She attended arbitration hearings with the club’s resident baseball lifer, a man named Jack Gould who kept an unlit cigar in his mouth and possessed no filter when it came to speaking his mind.
Baseball told Kim Ng no (and no, and no) before it finally said yes|Candace Buckner|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Female performers have always possessed all those things, and now more than ever use them, along with their drive and style and image, to fight political oppression, climate change, domestic violence, racial and sexual injustice.
Beyoncé, Joni Mitchell and more: A veteran journalist tries to give female stars their due|Elizabeth Hand|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Purpose, the thing so many of us have felt without this year, I suddenly possessed.
Mushroom Hunting at the End of the World|Danny Palumbo|November 12, 2020|Eater
Strutting about his Turkeydom he is the object of fear, but lying calmly there on the Thanksgiving day dinner table, robbed of his plumes, unwattled, bound fast and beheaded, love only possesses the breasts of all who regard him.
143 years of Thanksgiving coverage in The Post|Becky Krystal|November 9, 2020|Washington Post

The law requires that voters have government-issued identification to vote, with no other options for those who do not possess one.
Voter Suppression: An Ongoing Battle in 2020|Truthbetold|November 4, 2020|TruthBeTold.news
The sharply tailored blazer and weighty jewelry that cling to her body hints at the dominant personality she possesses.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sharpton would later emphasize to The Daily Beast that he neither possesses nor desires such power.
Is Al Sharpton Running New York City Hall From the White House?|Michael Daly|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It possesses the power to both humanize and demonize minority groups.
Why Muslims Hate Terrorism More|Dean Obeidallah|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
ISIS forces had come so close to Erbil that the city was in range of the Howitzer artillery cannons that ISIS possesses.
McCain Calls Obama's 'Pinprick' Iraq Strikes 'Meaningless' and 'Almost Worse Than Nothing'|Josh Rogin|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In short, jazz now possesses a prestige unprecedented in its long history.
Jazz (The Music of Coffee and Donuts) Has Respect, But It Needs Love|Ted Gioia|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Inclusion, as applied to the events of life possesses the same variety as in regard to words.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
And then at last the Pupil if he possesses a first-rate cramming memory might answer questions on it.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
This instrument possesses in an eminent degree the admirable qualities of the Amati tone, with also considerable power.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce
It possesses, however, one advantage; it warns the foot passenger, and affords him time to get out of the way.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
Neither the model, the wood, nor the varnish possesses much verisimilitude at different periods of his career.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce

British Dictionary definitions for possess

possess

/ (pəˈzɛs) /

verb (tr)

to have as one's property; own

to have as a quality, faculty, characteristic, etcto possess good eyesight

to have knowledge or mastery ofto possess a little French

to gain control over or dominatewhatever possessed you to act so foolishly?

(foll by of) to cause to be the owner or possessorI am possessed of the necessary information

(often foll by with) to cause to be influenced or dominated (by)the news possessed him with anger

to have sexual intercourse with

rare to keep control over or maintain (oneself or one's feelings) in a certain state or conditionpossess yourself in patience until I tell you the news

archaic to gain or seize

Derived forms of possess

possessor, noun

Word Origin for possess

C15: from Old French possesser, from Latin possidēre to own, occupy; related to Latin sedēre to sit

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

possess

Origin of possess

synonym study for possess

OTHER WORDS FROM possess

Words related to possess

How to use possess in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for possess

Derived forms of possess

Word Origin for possess