If you are inpossessionof something, you have it, because you have obtained it or because it belongs to you.
[formal]
Those documents are now in the possession of the Guardian. [+ of]
We should go up and take possession of the land. [+ of]
He was also charged with illegal possession of firearms. [+ of]
Religious pamphlets were found in their possession.
Synonyms: ownership, control, custody, hold More Synonyms of possession
2. countable noun [usually plural]
Your possessions are the things that you own or have with you at a particular time.
People had lost their homes and all their possessions.
She had tidied away her possessions.
3. countable noun [usually plural]
A country's possessions are countries or territories that it controls.
[formal]
All of them were French possessions at one time or another.
...Britain's imperial possessions.
4. uncountable noun
Possession by an evil spirit is the situation when a person's mind and body is controlled by an evil spirit.
They were convinced the girls' behaviour was due to possession by the devil.
More Synonyms of possession
English Easy Learning GrammarShowing possession through nounsPossession can be shown in two ways: The man was mending his car. The car was being mended by a man. by adding -’s to a singular noun, or an irregular ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarThe apostrophe ( ’ )Misusing or omitting the apostrophe is one of the commonest punctuation errors. Showing possession The apostrophe ( ’ ) is used to show that something ... Read more
possession in British English
(pəˈzɛʃən)
noun
1.
the act of possessing or state of being possessed
in possession of the crown
2.
anything that is owned or possessed
3. (plural)
wealth or property
4.
the state of being controlled or dominated by or as if by evil spirits
5.
the physical control or occupancy of land, property, etc, whether or not accompanied by ownership
to take possession of a house
6.
a territory subject to a foreign state or to a sovereign prince
colonial possessions
7. sport
control of the ball, puck, etc, as exercised by a player or team
he lost possession in his own half
possession in American English
(pəˈzɛʃən)
noun
1.
a possessing or being possessed, as by ownership or occupancy; hold
2.
anything possessed
3. [pl.]
property; wealth
4.
territory ruled by an outside country
5.
control of oneself
see also self-possession
6. Sport
actual control of the ball or puck in play
Derived forms
possessional (posˈsessional)
adjective
Word origin
OFr < L possessio
Examples of 'possession' in a sentence
possession
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
I would estimate that they should be in his possession sometime tomorrow morning.
MacNeill, Alastair CODE BREAKER (2001)
Handmade for her by the master craftsman Edward Barnsley and for many years her most prized possession.
Martin, Joy THE IMAGE OF LAURA (2001)
Quotations
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and stealBible: St. Matthew
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Possession is nine points of the law
In other languages
possession
British English: possession /pəˈzɛʃən/ NOUN
retention If you are in possessionof something, you have it, because you have obtained it or because it belongs to you.
Those documents are now in the possession of the Guardian newspaper.
American English: possession
Arabic: إِمْتِلاك
Brazilian Portuguese: posse
Chinese: 拥有物
Croatian: vlasništvo
Czech: vlastnictí
Danish: besiddelse
Dutch: bezit
European Spanish: posesión
Finnish: omistus
French: possession
German: Besitztum
Greek: κτήση
Italian: possesso
Japanese: 所有
Korean: 소유
Norwegian: eiendel
Polish: posiadanie
European Portuguese: posse
Romanian: posesie
Russian: обладание
Latin American Spanish: posesión
Swedish: ägodel
Thai: ความเป็นเจ้าของ
Turkish: mülkiyet
Ukrainian: володіння
Vietnamese: sự sỡ hữu
British English: possession NOUN
belongings Your possessions are the things that you own or have with you at a particular time.
People had lost their homes and all their possessions.
American English: possession
Brazilian Portuguese: posse
Chinese: 拥有
European Spanish: posesión
French: possession
German: Besitz
Italian: possesso
Japanese: 所有物
Korean: 재산
European Portuguese: posse
Latin American Spanish: posesión
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All related terms of 'possession'
self-possession
Self-possession is the quality of being self-possessed .
adverse possession
the occupation or possession of land by a person not legally entitled to it. If continued unopposed for a period specified by law , such occupation extinguishes the title of the rightful owner
possession order
(in Britain) a court order that entitles a landlord legally to evict a tenant or squatter and regain possession of the property
vacant possession
ownership of an unoccupied house or property, any previous owner or tenant having departed
unlawful possession
possession of substances or items (such as drugs or guns ) for which criminal sanctions exist because they may not be legally possessed or may not be possessed under certain circumstances
Chinese translation of 'possession'
possession
(pəˈzɛʃən)
n(u)
(= act, state) 拥(擁)有 (yōngyǒu)
to be in possession of sth (frm)[facts, information, documents]掌握某事 (zhǎngwò mǒushì)
to take possession of sth (Mil) 占(佔)领(領)某处(處) (zhànlǐng mǒuchù) [new owner]获(獲)得某物 (huòdé mǒuwù)
to be in the possession of sb被某人所拥(擁)有 (bèi mǒurén suǒ yōngyǒu)
Derived Forms
possessionsn pl财(財)产(產) (cáichǎn)
1 (noun)
Definition
the state of possessing
These documents are now in the possession of the authorities.
Synonyms
ownership
the growth of home ownership in Britain
control
custody
hold
It's always useful to have a hold over people.
hands
tenure
Lack of security of tenure meant that many became homeless.
occupancy
Prices given are for a single occupancy of a standard room.
proprietorship
2 (noun)
Definition
a territory subject to a foreign state
All of these countries were once French possessions.
Synonyms
province
the Algarve, Portugal's southernmost province
territory
They deny that any of their territory is under rebel control.
colony
Cyprus, a former British colony, gained independence in 1960.
dominion
The Republic is a dominion of the Brazilian people.
protectorate
(plural noun)
Definition
wealth or property
People had lost their homes and all their possessions.
Synonyms
property
things
effects
His daughters came to collect his effects.
estate
assets
The group has assets worth billions of euros.
wealth
belongings
I collected my belongings and left.
chattels
goods and chattels
phrase
See take possession of
Quotation
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal [Bible: St. Matthew]
proverbs
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bushPossession is nine points of the law
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assets
The group has assets worth billions of euros.
Synonyms
property,
goods,
means,
holdings,
money,
funds,
effects,
capital,
riches,
finance,
reserves,
resources,
estate,
wealth,
valuables,
possessions
in the sense of belongings
Definition
the things that a person owns or has with him or her
I collected my belongings and left.
Synonyms
possessions,
goods,
things,
effects,
property,
stuff,
gear,
paraphernalia,
personal property,
accoutrements,
chattels,
goods and chattels
in the sense of colony
Definition
the territory occupied by such a settlement
Cyprus, a former British colony, gained independence in 1960.
Synonyms
settlement,
territory,
province,
possession,
dependency,
outpost,
dominion,
satellite state,
community
Synonyms of 'possession'
possession
Explore 'possession' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dominion
Definition
(formerly) a self-governing division of the British Empire
The Republic is a dominion of the Brazilian people.
Synonyms
kingdom,
territory,
province,
country,
region,
empire,
patch,
turf (slang),
realm,
domain
in the sense of effects
Definition
personal belongings
His daughters came to collect his effects.
Synonyms
belongings,
goods,
things,
property,
stuff,
gear,
furniture,
possessions,
trappings,
paraphernalia,
personal property,
accoutrements,
chattels,
movables
in the sense of hold
Definition
controlling influence
It's always useful to have a hold over people.
Synonyms
control,
authority,
influence,
pull (informal),
sway,
dominance,
clout (informal),
mastery,
dominion,
ascendancy,
mana (New Zealand),
HD
in the sense of occupancy
Definition
the period of time during which one is an occupant of a property
Prices given are for a single occupancy of a standard room.
Synonyms
occupation,
use,
residence,
holding,
term,
possession,
tenure,
tenancy,
habitation,
inhabitancy
in the sense of tenure
Definition
the holding of an office or position
Lack of security of tenure meant that many became homeless.
Synonyms
occupancy,
holding,
occupation,
residence,
tenancy,
possession,
proprietorship
in the sense of territory
Definition
the geographical area under the control of a particular government
They deny that any of their territory is under rebel control.