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

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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 In fact, Smith is averaging a league-high four steals per 100 possessions among players who have played in at least 40 games this season. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026 Brown, who played the entire first quarter, took over from there, hitting an and-one jumper on the next Boston possession. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026 Arteaga pleaded guilty in August 2017 to possession of a firearm by a felon with a sentencing enhancement for gang activity. City News Service, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026 Winthrop has a 5-4 record in one-possession games. ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for possession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possession
Noun
  • Bill Clinton, with a calmer demeanor and visibly shaking hands, denied having any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Post the performance, the humanoid shook hands with Honor CEO James Li, and also performed a clean backflip that landed flawlessly, leaving the viewers amazed, meeting a ripple of applause across the room.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The belongings included identification and immigration documents, passports, driver’s licenses and work permits as well as cash, cellphones, clothing and jewelry.
    Gary Grumbach, NBC news, 3 Mar. 2026
  • The shooter then gathers some belongings and walks back to her car.
    Anna McAllister, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Costa Mesa officials say the partnership with Irvine will help increase the occupancy rate and offset operational costs to run the shelter.
    Claire Wang, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
  • High occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV lanes) are reserved for vehicles occupied by two or more passengers.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And could an impact on the reward circuitry in the brain have an effect on everyday enjoyment of life, desire and positive-risk-taking?
    Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
  • That reaction — genuine, visceral enjoyment from someone who evaluates food professionally — is about as strong an endorsement as an improvised pita sandwich can get.
    Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And upstairs, rooftop bar High Praise keeps things fresh with rotating pop-ups throughout the year.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
  • The little things added up Tuesday.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • One day in August, a CBC crew arrived to mark the first anniversary of the tree-house occupation.
    Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Greece was under Nazi occupation from 1941 until 1944.
    CBS News, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The grand opening Tuesday of the center on the library’s ground floor was a showcase of AI tools and demonstrations from San Jose State students, city departments and partners like LEGO Education, with fun stuff like robots on display.
    Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
  • This is once-in-a-lifetime stuff.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The streamer has had a deal in place for nearly three months, through every Ellison shareholder agitation or Kennedy Center habitation.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The Social Circle location would be just one of 23 warehouses needing to be converted for human habitation.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possession. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

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