possession

Definition of possessionnext
1
as in hands
the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal a student who was found to have several overdue library books in his possession

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in occupancy
the act or fact of residing in a place squatters had established possession in the abandoned warehouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 possession There will be possessions where the Wolves’ offense seemingly stalls and needs to create something out of nothing. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026 The Red Bulls had 61% possession, but were outshot 12-7, 6-0 on target. ABC News, 2 May 2026 Sporting had 39% possession and took 11 shots, seven of which were on goal. The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026 Stars coach Glen Gulutzan kept pointing to the analytics, which said the Stars went toe-to-toe in terms of possession, scoring chances and shot attempts. Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for possession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possession
Noun
  • To complete her dramatic look, Osaka’s hands were dipped in dripping red paint.
    Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
  • The Lakers should put Marcus Smart in the corner as much as possible if Smart doesn’t have the ball in his hands; the difference between Smart as a corner 3-point shooter and Smart as a threat above-the-break is vast.
    Law Murray, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • Too, softside luggage can’t protect your belongings from being crushed by the weight of other bags that get stacked on top, says Bacha.
    Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Part of plant etiquette is to keep track of all your belongings, including edibles, and not litter the plant displays.
    Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • City officials are pitching the measure, officially known as the transient occupancy tax, as a way to raise money for critical public services without asking residents to pay more.
    Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
  • The figures reflect average daily occupancy — or the percentage of parking spaces filled — across both stations.
    Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • The Moon moves through your 5th House of Creativity, bringing energy toward expression and enjoyment.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The platform also accommodates mobile properties such as boats and recreational vehicles, where operational knowledge plays a significant role in both safety and enjoyment.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As the Moon moves through your 2nd House of Finances, clear terms help prevent confusion and keep things fair.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Rodriguez is happy to see things coming together as conference play gets into full swing.
    Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The old game show features a panel of urbane socialites trying to guess the occupation of regular Americans (and, blindfolded, the identity of celebrities).
    Dan Zak, The Atlantic, 3 May 2026
  • The federal agency announced Friday the new stamp set will feature the iconic Barbie doll dressed in 10 outfits depicting different occupations, including an astronaut, music star, paleontologist, sign language teacher, soccer player and surgeon.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • The spooky environs created by production designer Til Frohlich are the stuff nightmares are made of; the murky bathtub, moldering linens and secret compartments that go bump in the night.
    Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026
  • There’s some really messed up stuff happening at that farm.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 May 2026
Noun
  • In recent weeks, there has been palpable excitement over NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission and the announcement of the space agency's ambitious plans for human habitation of the moon.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • One of the more intriguing space stories in a while broke last week when NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said during a congressional hearing that the two habitation modules built for the Lunar Gateway had been corroded.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possession. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on possession

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster