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 Eugene Horsch was arrested in June for possessing a fake federal ID, drugs and guns. — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 He was also expected to face a felony drug-possession charge involving two or more prior convictions and misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia, according to jail records. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026 That means creating graduates who are AI-fluent while also possessing the judgment and character necessary to apply technology wisely. — Irma Becerra, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 According to federal prosecutors, Miller received seven years of probation in the child pornography case and, in a separate case involving two counts of possessing an explosive device, was sentenced to 2½ years in jail and 10 years of probation. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026 He was recently placed in solitary confinement for violating various prison rules, including possessing contraband such as cell phones and alcohol. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Initially accused of possessing methamphetamine and cocaine, Evans pleaded guilty to illegally using his department computer to look up license plate numbers for a friend, his attorney said in a statement Thursday. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 The Braves went from potentially losing Chris Sale’s start and seeing their season on the brink to now possessing the upper hand, well positioned to finally get the last laugh on their northern rivals. — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026 For anyone who came of age with those compilations, the appeal is less about owning rare vinyl in pristine condition than possessing a physical artifact from the process that made the music. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 29 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessing
  1. owning
  2. having
  3. retaining
  4. enjoying
Verb
  • The Josephs' home state of Tennessee, where the GOP has a lock on state government, is among a growing number looking to outlaw companies that own PBMs from also owning brick-and-mortar pharmacies, as CVS does.
    — Blake Farmer, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Through complex ownership structures, a family can maintain control over companies in the group while directly owning only a relatively small share of them.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of owning
Verb
  • Elsewhere in the conversation, both musicians found common ground on the downsides of having online visibility.
    — DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • According to a source, McMullen is the front-runner for the TV play-by-play job because he’s viewed as having considerable natural talent as a broadcaster.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of having
Verb
  • While retaining the distinctive tabi construction of its archival reference, the collaborative series introduces thicker bases and more substantial proportions to create a new expression.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Kapoor will lead the creative direction, with Balaji retaining the underlying IP while tapping YouTube’s global distribution and advertising business — a savvy expansion that doesn’t involve surrendering ownership of her stories.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of retaining
Verb
  • The Sox even invoked images of Little League players enjoying some postgame ice cream with their buddies at the local Dairy Queen.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The couple was also photographed holding hands last week, enjoying their first outing together since their return.
    — Lou Gomis, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of enjoying

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possessing
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Cite this Entry

“Possessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessing. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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