possessing

present participle of possess

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 The next 77 minutes saw the Pride largely in control despite Seattle out-possessing and out-shooting them. Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025 Vecna attaches one of the vines to Will's mouth, overriding his willpower and possessing him. Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025 In October 2017, he was detained at LAX Airport in Los Angeles, California, for possessing small amounts of cocaine. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025 Into this pastoral scene of modern irrigation and baseball training sweeps Walter Matthau, driving a big, old, shambolic convertible, well past its prime but, like its driver, still possessing more than a bit of charm. Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025 Among those scheduled to testify at the hearing for the government were an Oklahoma couple who were storing some of Goudreau's belongings, including two assault rifles an associate recently tried to retrieve in possible violation of a court order against possessing firearms while on bond. Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2025 But those remakes are about hive-mind monsters infecting and possessing humans, who valiantly resist but fail to eradicate the threat. Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025 Each suspect was arrested on counts of possessing burglary tools — in this case, a rake — and grand theft of fruit, Pedley said. Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2025 Madison bans selling, possessing and purchasing any exotic or wild animal. Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessing
Verb
  • India’s new corporate vanguard Increasingly, many of these centers are leading efforts on product engineering, AI model development, and automation strategy — co-owning innovation and intellectual property in the process.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
  • In fact, according to Oxfam's latest findings, the wealthiest 1% currently control 43% of the world’s wealth, while owning more capital than 95% of humanity combined.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • There were fires that needed putting out across the team and having Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in form has helped extinguish a number of them.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • He was suspended to begin the 1995 season for cocaine and admitted to having a substance abuse problem.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The signature lumber is low-maintenance and resists staining, fading, and retaining moisture — even in coastal and harsh climates.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The contemporary hull is designed to maximize openness while retaining a close connection with water.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Austin Reaves is enjoying the best stretch of his NBA career, and Redick has seen contributions from a variety of players night after night.
    Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Lomax not only wrote the song but also stars in the commercial, which portrays him enjoying the Biggie Bag combo meal, a scene that turns into a lively celebration of music and food.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Possessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessing. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on possessing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!