possessed; possessing; possesses
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 riches
possessed of knowledge and experience
Examples of possess in a Sentence
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?
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?
Recent Examples on the Web
How naive of me to expect that those in the public eye would at least pretend to possess tact, diplomacy, magnanimity and graciousness rather than bark and growl like an angry pit bull on a thick clanking chain.
—Louis Balsamo, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
James Gabbert/Getty Images The Context Texas law allows people with a license to conceal carry a gun and to possess that gun on college campuses.
—Sophie Clark
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
The 6’4 guard possesses elite athleticism to complement his high-level defensive effort and blossoming three-point shot making.
—Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
The Valdivia figurines, created in coastal Ecuador between about 4000 and 3500 B.C.E., tend to possess both male and female attributes.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for possess
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Louis Balsamo, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
James Gabbert/Getty Images The Context Texas law allows people with a license to conceal carry a gun and to possess that gun on college campuses.
—Sophie Clark
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
The 6’4 guard possesses elite athleticism to complement his high-level defensive effort and blossoming three-point shot making.
—Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
The Valdivia figurines, created in coastal Ecuador between about 4000 and 3500 B.C.E., tend to possess both male and female attributes.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for possess
Cite this Entry
“Possess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possess. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
possess
transitive verb
pos·sess
pə-ˈzes 
: to have possession of
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