1
as in hands
the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal
a student who was found to have several overdue library books in his possession
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in belongings
possessions plural
transportable items that one owns
we packed up all of our possessions and excitedly moved into a new house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in occupancy
the act or fact of residing in a place
squatters had established possession in the abandoned warehouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of possession
Edward Kabacinski pleaded no contest to improper possession of a firearm, according to online Macomb County Circuit Court records.
—
Christina Hall, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
The sheriff's office said in a news release that Green was arrested for possession of a firearm.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 21 Oct. 2025
Neither team scored through the first quarter, and the 49ers had only one possession, which started with a sack (allowed by Dominick Puni) before McCaffrey and Brian Robinson keyed a drive that didn’t get past the Falcons’ 42-yard line.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for possession
Christina Hall, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
The sheriff's office said in a news release that Green was arrested for possession of a firearm.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 21 Oct. 2025
Neither team scored through the first quarter, and the 49ers had only one possession, which started with a sack (allowed by Dominick Puni) before McCaffrey and Brian Robinson keyed a drive that didn’t get past the Falcons’ 42-yard line.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for possession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possession
Noun
-
There’s no due process here, either; the three triumvirs don’t get their hands dirty, their decisions can’t be appealed, and there’s no public process by which those to be killed will be identified before the decision is final.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Delving into the tragic murder of Ajike Owens, a Black Florida woman, at the hands of her white neighbor Susan Lorincz, the new film from prolific documentarian Geeta Gandbhir examines issues of race, class, community, and surveillance.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
My sister had shouldered the heavy burden of caring for our mother in her final years, after which she was left with nearly all of our mother’s remaining belongings that had been left in her home.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
-
But budgets are also a major reason why Americans pack their belongings and go.—
Amelia Mularz,
Architectural Digest,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The library is on track to obtain occupancy permitting in December, Gould said.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Like hotels, short-term rentals already are assessed transient occupancy taxes (TOT) by the city.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Powered by a torquey 999cc liquid cooled, parallel-twin, four-stroke engine, with a Unicam cylinder head, the 5-seater Pioneer 1000 is specifically designed for fun in the sun, honey-do lists around the house, weekend trail enjoyment and even family outings with friends.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Record the last of this year's flowers for your garden journal, but also for your own enjoyment later.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Aneurysms form when a weak spot develops in a blood vessel wall, often due to things like high blood pressure, smoking, or genetics.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Health,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Meghan’s travel formula is warm, comfortable, and practical for holiday getaways, which is why now is a good time to copy her pieces before things really get busy.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
At that sentencing hearing, a number of witnesses for the defense testified to the facts of Lorincz's occupation, none pointing to work as a doctor.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Since the full-scale invasion in 2022 and the occupation of new territories, Russia has ramped up its soft-power campaign in Ukraine.—
Tetiana Kotelnykova,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Island of the Dolls Truly the stuff of Chucky nightmares, Mexico’s Island of the Dolls—La Isla de las Muñecas—amid the Xochimilco canals south of Mexico City is known for hundreds of dolls displayed throughout the island.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
-
And the public gets some wild movies and TV shows that would otherwise never get made, doing crazy-stupid stuff like recreating Napoleonic-era sea battles off the coast of the Galapagos.—
John Lopez,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Work at the site to determine a more detailed timeline of dinosaur habitation began in 2011.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
-
This larger outpost would be a stepping stone toward artificial gravity and long-term habitation.—
Andrew Jones,
Space.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possession. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share