as in owning
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
she possesses a keen insight into people
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Recent Examples of possessing
The 31-year-old man was charged Wednesday with malicious destruction of property and possessing substances to operate a meth lab.
—
ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
In outlining their case, authorities have not said how Talley ended up possessing the gun.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Ranzy was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a January 2025 conviction for felony threats of violence in Ramsey County.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026
The police did not respond to a list of questions from CNN, including which instructions were not followed, which conduct was suspicious and why possessing a camera is seen as provocative.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Yong Ni, who owns Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse locations, faces 10 federal counts, including harboring and unlawfully employing immigrants and possessing a fraudulent immigrant visa, according to an indictment unsealed Friday.
—CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
And scattering experiments showed that, at an elementary level, reality was described by individual quanta, possessing specific properties common to all members of their species.
—Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026
Chee faces seven counts of murder and three counts of insurance fraud, along with charges of possessing and transporting explosive or destructive devices; criminal conspiracy; and unlawfully causing a fire.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Second place is a tossup between Tabasco and Sriracha, each possessing around 2,500 SHUs.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
In outlining their case, authorities have not said how Talley ended up possessing the gun.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Ranzy was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a January 2025 conviction for felony threats of violence in Ramsey County.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026
The police did not respond to a list of questions from CNN, including which instructions were not followed, which conduct was suspicious and why possessing a camera is seen as provocative.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Yong Ni, who owns Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse locations, faces 10 federal counts, including harboring and unlawfully employing immigrants and possessing a fraudulent immigrant visa, according to an indictment unsealed Friday.
—CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
And scattering experiments showed that, at an elementary level, reality was described by individual quanta, possessing specific properties common to all members of their species.
—Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026
Chee faces seven counts of murder and three counts of insurance fraud, along with charges of possessing and transporting explosive or destructive devices; criminal conspiracy; and unlawfully causing a fire.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Second place is a tossup between Tabasco and Sriracha, each possessing around 2,500 SHUs.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessing
Verb
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The ship is associated with Mordashov, a Russian billionaire and owner of steel magnate Severstal, with shipping records showing Mordashov’s wife Marina Mordashova, owning the vessel for a brief window in 2022.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
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The Stars are expected to follow the same game plan executed by the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers; move into a new venue, and create new revenue by owning the surrounding properties, too.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Though signs of its impending closure were all around this past weekend, the New Black Wall Street Market was having one last hurrah.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Prosecutors say Maduro and Rodriguez authorized a series of payments totaling $20 million under terms of the PDV USA contract before having a falling out with Rivera’s group by the end of 2017.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This hat comes in multiple sizes and colors and can fold up nicely when packed in a suitcase, retaining its shape afterward.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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Microsoft then licensed this operating system to IBM as PC-DOS while retaining the ability to sell the operating system to other companies.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In other snaps Hough shared, she was seen wearing several different swimsuits while enjoying some fun under the sun.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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Krejczyk and Gagen, meanwhile, are enjoying a season that started rough but has gotten better.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Possessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessing. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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