as in to have
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
she possesses a keen insight into people
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of possess
John Tharp, a wealthy planter who owned most of the estates, was the largest slave owner on the island, at one point in the early 1800s possessing more than two thousand people.
—
Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Rather than the standard psychological insights of TV’s many homicide detectives, Graham possesses a virtually psychic ability to put himself into killers’ twisted psyches.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
Varley, a teacher, was also found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm; four counts of cruelty to a person under 16; ten counts of taking indecent images of a child; two counts of possessing indecent images of a child; and one count of distributing an indecent image of a child.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
The Heat are far from possessing all those elements.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for possess
Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Rather than the standard psychological insights of TV’s many homicide detectives, Graham possesses a virtually psychic ability to put himself into killers’ twisted psyches.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
Varley, a teacher, was also found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm; four counts of cruelty to a person under 16; ten counts of taking indecent images of a child; two counts of possessing indecent images of a child; and one count of distributing an indecent image of a child.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
The Heat are far from possessing all those elements.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for possess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possess
Verb
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In fact, their entire relationship has an eerie, performative aura.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
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That was especially true the following game when the Golden Knights took a 4-0 lead into the third period and the Hurricanes seemed to have no answers.—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Iran insists on retaining a degree of control over the waterway and gaining immediate access to its frozen funds, while negotiations over the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment would take place after the interim deal is signed.—
Arsalan Shahla,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
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The pool was rebuilt but retained its kidney-bean shape, a nod to early 20th-century design.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Two other ships owned by Lan, priced at about $175,000 each, have also failed to find buyers.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
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The whole crew, minus Jason, who can’t bend his knee, and Lacy, who needs a whole day to get to an airport owned by John Wayne, goes to Punta Mita, Mexico, to celebrate the birthdays of Schwartz, Zack, and Danny.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Attendees enjoyed classic dishes like pancit and lumpia alongside musical performances and traditional folk dances by legacy Filipino American cultural organizations from across the South Bay.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
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Witt enjoyed his time meeting the Sooners.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Possess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possess. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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