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
Fear possessed me.
What possessed you to do such a thing?
After college, she was possessed by a desire to travel.
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
In fact, the ultra-high and extreme energy ones, at the absolute maximum, possess millions of times the energy that the Large Hadron Collider achieves at its maximum.
—Big Think, 30 Jan. 2026
The builders who will define the next decade are not those who merely navigate the existing labyrinth, but those who possess the insight and resolve to architect its successor.
—Sahar Hashmi, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Though particular and precise in an operating room, Toni possesses a magnetic zest for life and exudes warmth with patients and her students.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
The bill passed the state assembly and heads to the Senate, requiring sellers to possess tickets before listing them and raising maximum penalties to $10,000.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possess
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Big Think, 30 Jan. 2026
The builders who will define the next decade are not those who merely navigate the existing labyrinth, but those who possess the insight and resolve to architect its successor.
—Sahar Hashmi, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Though particular and precise in an operating room, Toni possesses a magnetic zest for life and exudes warmth with patients and her students.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
The bill passed the state assembly and heads to the Senate, requiring sellers to possess tickets before listing them and raising maximum penalties to $10,000.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possess
Cite this Entry
“Possess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possess. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
possess
transitive verb
pos·sess
pə-ˈzes 
: to have possession of
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