possession

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

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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

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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 possession Elmahdi is being charged with operating while intoxicated with passengers under 16 years of age, possession of THC, reckless driving endangering safety, operating while suspended, operating without insurance and a child safety restraint violation. Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025 Advertisement What the Supreme Court is considering At issue before the Supreme Court is whether the federal statute barring gun ownership for unlawful drug users is similar enough to other historical restrictions on firearm possession. Solcyré Burga, Time, 27 Oct. 2025 With two minutes left, Arizona State took possession with a chance to tie but could not secure a first down. Doug Haller, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025 Atlanta went three and out and four of its first five possessions. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for possession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possession
Noun
  • There’s no due process here, either; the three triumvirs don’t get their hands dirty, their decisions can’t be appealed, and there’s no public process by which those to be killed will be identified before the decision is final.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Delving into the tragic murder of Ajike Owens, a Black Florida woman, at the hands of her white neighbor Susan Lorincz, the new film from prolific documentarian Geeta Gandbhir examines issues of race, class, community, and surveillance.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Generally, taking up space from somebody else’s chair by spreading your belongings around is not considered acceptable on a plane, where individual space is already limited.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Authorities believe the burglary took place before the students could return to collect their belongings, occurring between Thursday and Saturday, according to the outlet.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The library is on track to obtain occupancy permitting in December, Gould said.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Like hotels, short-term rentals already are assessed transient occupancy taxes (TOT) by the city.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Powered by a torquey 999cc liquid cooled, parallel-twin, four-stroke engine, with a Unicam cylinder head, the 5-seater Pioneer 1000 is specifically designed for fun in the sun, honey-do lists around the house, weekend trail enjoyment and even family outings with friends.
    Marc D. Grasso, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Record the last of this year's flowers for your garden journal, but also for your own enjoyment later.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Aneurysms form when a weak spot develops in a blood vessel wall, often due to things like high blood pressure, smoking, or genetics.
    Sohaib Imtiaz, Health, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Meghan’s travel formula is warm, comfortable, and practical for holiday getaways, which is why now is a good time to copy her pieces before things really get busy.
    Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • At that sentencing hearing, a number of witnesses for the defense testified to the facts of Lorincz's occupation, none pointing to work as a doctor.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Since the full-scale invasion in 2022 and the occupation of new territories, Russia has ramped up its soft-power campaign in Ukraine.
    Tetiana Kotelnykova, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The blanket comes with a USB charging cable, a pocket for the battery, and a stuff sack for storage and travel.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025
  • In other words, the stuff of literature.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Work at the site to determine a more detailed timeline of dinosaur habitation began in 2011.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
  • This larger outpost would be a stepping stone toward artificial gravity and long-term habitation.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possession. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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