possess

verb

pos·sess pə-ˈzes How to pronounce possess (audio)

also

-ˈses

possessed; possessing; possesses

transitive verb

: to have and hold as property : own

: to have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

: to seize and take control of : take into one's possession

: to enter into and control firmly : dominate

was possessed by demons

: to bring or cause to fall under the influence, domination, or control of some emotional or intellectual response or reaction

melancholy possesses her

obsolete : to instate as owner

: to make the owner or holder

—used in passive construction to indicate simple possession

possessed of richespossessed of knowledge and experience

possessor

pə-ˈze-sər How to pronounce possess (audio)

also -ˈse-

noun

Example Sentences

What would possess seemingly sane people to treat concrete walls like trampolines?

Alice Park, Time, 16 Apr. 2007 People who experience specific colors when looking at particular letters, such as seeing sky blue when shown an R, possess an unusual abundance of connections in brain areas involved in word and color perception, a new brain-imaging investigation finds.

Bruce Bower, Science News, 26 May 2007 What does matter is that we come to recognize that playfulness, as a philosophical stance, can be very serious, indeed; and, moreover, that it possesses an unfailing capacity to arouse ridicule and hostility in those among us who crave certainty, reverence, and restraint.

Tom Robbins, Harper's, September 2004 nations that possess nuclear weapons The defendant was charged with possessing cocaine. The ruby was once possessed by an ancient queen. He dreams of someday possessing great wealth. He possesses a keen wit. The drug possesses the potential to suppress tumors. Do dolphins possess the ability to use language? See More

Recent Examples on the Web One former official said the most highly classified information often ended up in the hands of personnel who didn’t appear to have a need to possess it or weren’t authorized to read it.

Anchorage Daily News, 12 Aug. 2022 One former official said the most highly classified information often ended up in the hands of personnel who didn’t appear to have a need to possess it or weren’t authorized to read it.

Josh Dawsey, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2022 The other section requires people who had assault weapons before the law took effect on July 1 to get a permit to continue to possess them but largely only on their own property.

From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 27 July 2022 Felons here also lose the right to possess a firearm, hold public office, serve on a jury or as a notary.

Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 21 May 2022 Kelly did not possess a valid pistol permit, according to police.

Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2022 All-Big Ten, but didn’t possess a lot of elusiveness.

Tyler Tachman, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Aug. 2022 Newer entrants to the workforce and younger employees may possess—or at least have working knowledge of—many of the skills employers seek today.

Expert Panel®, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 The story, however -- which screenwriter Zak Olkewicz adapted from Japanese novel -- doesn't possess enough fuel to consistently sustain that tone.

Brian Lowry, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 See More

单词	possess
释义	possess verb pos·sess pə-ˈzes also -ˈses possessed; possessing; possesses transitive verb 1 a : to have and hold as property : own b : to have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill 2 a : to seize and take control of : take into one's possession b : to enter into and control firmly : dominate was possessed by demons c : to bring or cause to fall under the influence, domination, or control of some emotional or intellectual response or reaction melancholy possesses her 3 a obsolete : to instate as owner b : to make the owner or holder —used in passive construction to indicate simple possession possessed of richespossessed of knowledge and experience possessor pə-ˈze-sər also -ˈse- noun Synonyms command enjoy have hold own retain See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences What would possess seemingly sane people to treat concrete walls like trampolines? Alice Park, Time, 16 Apr. 2007 People who experience specific colors when looking at particular letters, such as seeing sky blue when shown an R, possess an unusual abundance of connections in brain areas involved in word and color perception, a new brain-imaging investigation finds. Bruce Bower, Science News, 26 May 2007 What does matter is that we come to recognize that playfulness, as a philosophical stance, can be very serious, indeed; and, moreover, that it possesses an unfailing capacity to arouse ridicule and hostility in those among us who crave certainty, reverence, and restraint. Tom Robbins, Harper's, September 2004 nations that possess nuclear weapons The defendant was charged with possessing cocaine. The ruby was once possessed by an ancient queen. He dreams of someday possessing great wealth. He possesses a keen wit. The drug possesses the potential to suppress tumors. Do dolphins possess the ability to use language? See More Recent Examples on the Web One former official said the most highly classified information often ended up in the hands of personnel who didn’t appear to have a need to possess it or weren’t authorized to read it. Anchorage Daily News, 12 Aug. 2022 One former official said the most highly classified information often ended up in the hands of personnel who didn’t appear to have a need to possess it or weren’t authorized to read it. Josh Dawsey, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2022 The other section requires people who had assault weapons before the law took effect on July 1 to get a permit to continue to possess them but largely only on their own property. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 27 July 2022 Felons here also lose the right to possess a firearm, hold public office, serve on a jury or as a notary. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 21 May 2022 Kelly did not possess a valid pistol permit, according to police. Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2022 All-Big Ten, but didn’t possess a lot of elusiveness. Tyler Tachman, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Aug. 2022 Newer entrants to the workforce and younger employees may possess—or at least have working knowledge of—many of the skills employers seek today. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 The story, however -- which screenwriter Zak Olkewicz adapted from Japanese novel -- doesn't possess enough fuel to consistently sustain that tone. Brian Lowry, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Middle French possesser to have possession of, take possession of, from Latin possessus, past participle of possidēre, from potis able, having the power + sedēre to sit — more at potent, sit First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Kids Definition possess verb pos·sess pə-ˈzes possessed; possessing 1 : to have and hold as property : own I possess little money. 2 : to have as a characteristic or quality The black wolf also possessed wisdom, she had observed. Jean Craighead George, Julie of the Wolves 3 : to enter into and control possessed by a demon What possessed you to say that? Legal Definition possess transitive verb pos·sess pə-ˈzes : to have possession of possess verb as in to have to keep, control, or experience as one's own she possesses a keen insight into people Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance have own retain enjoy hold command carry keep reserve withhold rejoice in boast bear show off sport Antonyms & Near Antonyms want lack relinquish renounce yield cede require abandon surrender disclaim need discard hand over reject dump spurn repudiate disown decline See More
随便看	degusted degusting degusts dehair dehepatize dehire dehired dehires dehiring dehisce dehisced dehiscence dehiscences dehiscent dehisces dehiscing Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Dehkan Dehmelt dehnstufe dehnstufen dehorn dehorned dehorner dehorners

possess

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

Legal Definition

transitive verb

verb