possessing

verb

present participle of possess
as in owning
to keep, control, or experience as one's own she possesses a keen insight into people

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 possessing But his centre-forward qualities extend beyond pure physical strength, with Merino possessing genuine striker instincts, movement and anticipation. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 11 July 2026 Varèse-plus-Oladra rewards the listener with digital playback possessing the emotion expected of analogue. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 8 July 2026 Vinol Wilson, 52, pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm, keeping a dog for use in dog fighting, buying and receiving a dog for use in dog fighting venture and conspiring to violate the federal Animal Welfare Act’s animal fighting law. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026 Agents need to know that AI lowers the value of possessing information and raises the value of interpreting it. — John Walkup, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 The couple appeared in federal court on Monday, July 6, on charges of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 July 2026 In a separate case, Harris was charged in February with prisoner possessing a deadly weapon, a Level 4 felony. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 In 1999, authorities jailed Gadd for possessing child pornography. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2026 CoRoT 2b defies this expectation too, possessing a hotspot in the opposite direction of its orbit. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessing
  1. owning
  2. having
  3. retaining
  4. enjoying
Verb
  • The market does not reward investors for owning renowned brands.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • From 2005 to 2024, the share of adults ages 25 to 34 who lived independently, renting or owning a home with a spouse, declined from 74% to 62%, according to the Urban Institute.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 11 July 2026
Definition of owning
Verb
  • Data center developments have stoked anger across the state in recent years as residents worry about resource consumption as well as noise and others issues related to having large-scale tech facilities near residential areas.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026
  • The goal is to make your lineup unique, so try (in GPP) to stay away from having all the players that the field values (this is the strategy for cash).
    — Gladys Louise Tyler, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of having
Verb
  • Their menu is seasonal and slightly whimsical while retaining a clear vision, a good representation of the many personalities that make up the Kimball House team.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Lay down the cardboard and cover it with a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch to block sunlight from reaching weed seeds while retaining soil moisture and improving soil health as the mulch and cardboard break down.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026
Definition of retaining
Verb
  • The Englishman is enjoying a banner year and has a strong track record at the Renaissance Club, having finished fourth a year ago and T6 in 2022.
    — Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Brazil may be enjoying samba music back home after its Sunday loss to Norway, but the World Cup must go on.
    — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
Definition of enjoying

Browse Nearby Words

possesses
possessing
possession
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Cite this Entry

“Possessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessing. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on possessing

Nglish: Translation of possessing for Spanish Speakers

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