possess
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.
Origin of possess
1synonym study For possess
Other words from possess
- pos·ses·sor, noun
- pos·ses·sor·ship, noun
- un·der·pos·ses·sor, noun
- un·pos·sess·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
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 PostFemale 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 PostPurpose, the thing so many of us have felt without this year, I suddenly possessed.
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.
The law requires that voters have government-issued identification to vote, with no other options for those who do not possess one.
The sharply tailored blazer and weighty jewelry that cling to her body hints at the dominant personality she possesses.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTIt possesses the power to both humanize and demonize minority groups.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTIn 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 | THE DAILY BEASTInclusion, 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 PearceIt 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 PfeifferNeither 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
/ (pəˈzɛs) /
to have as one's property; own
to have as a quality, faculty, characteristic, etc: to possess good eyesight
to have knowledge or mastery of: to possess a little French
to gain control over or dominate: whatever possessed you to act so foolishly?
(foll by of) to cause to be the owner or possessor: I 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 condition: possess yourself in patience until I tell you the news
archaic to gain or seize
Origin of possess
1Derived forms of possess
- possessor, noun
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
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