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
as in belongings
possessions plural
transportable items that one owns
we packed up all of our possessions and excitedly moved into a new house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
These are not the polished relics of admirals and officers but the everyday possessions of working men who fought and died aboard a burning warship.
—
Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
Former Georgia Southern University quarterback Shai Werts was suspended from the team after he was pulled over for speeding in South Carolina and charged with cocaine possession, CNN affiliate WXIA reported.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
Saba also plans to put samples in his possession up for auction on April 8.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 5 Apr. 2026
Oklahoma is 3-3 in one-possession games.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possession
Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
Former Georgia Southern University quarterback Shai Werts was suspended from the team after he was pulled over for speeding in South Carolina and charged with cocaine possession, CNN affiliate WXIA reported.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
Saba also plans to put samples in his possession up for auction on April 8.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 5 Apr. 2026
Oklahoma is 3-3 in one-possession games.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possession
Noun
-
The durable and velvety soft tanning mitt is designed to keep self tanner off your palms and hands.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
But replays showed the ball was still in his hands as time expired.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With its solid wood construction and rich espresso finish, this unit can support your belongings on its three sturdy shelves.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The situation escalated when one member of the group used profanity while gathering their belongings.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As more than 20,000 fans plan to descend on Inter Miami’s Nu Stadium for the grand opening Saturday, the city has still not issued a temporary certificate of occupancy for the site.—
Tess Riski
April 3,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Remaining work includes completing ceiling refinishing; final plastering and painting; flooring and carpet installation; reinstalling lighting and radiant heating systems; reinstalling the organ, pipes and trumpets; and final inspections, cleaning and occupancy approvals.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Character names fade, plot twists dissolve, but the enjoyment of the moment remains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Attempts at policing enjoyment led to the suppression of longtime carnival customs.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Knicks only truly made things interesting in minutes the former Brooklyn Nets star and sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer spent on the bench on Tuesday.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Upstairs at Place, things are a little more formal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Take Wage Order 15, which governs household occupations such as senior caregiving and housekeeping.—
Tom Manzo,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In occupations most exposed to AI substitution, the unemployment rate gap between entry-level workers (those under 30) and experienced workers (ages 31–50) has widened sharply relative to pre-pandemic averages.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Or more appropriately, the stuff of Marvel Comics.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Career stuff aside, this aspect is also ideal for designing (or analyzing) a budget.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Through the continuous habitation of the International Space Station in low Earth orbit for the past 26 years, scientists have come to better understand the effects of microgravity on the human body.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The United States and China are targeting landing humans on Mars in the 2030s, with the intention of building infrastructure that enables long-term habitation.—
Scott Solomon,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possession. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
