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
  • One hour and forty minutes later the two leaders re-emerged and could be seen shaking hands at the conclusion of their talks.
    Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Carpenter asked, as Fogelmanis smiled and held up his hands to receive the pink handcuffs.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Among those scheduled to testify at the hearing for the government were an Oklahoma couple who were storing some of Goudreau's belongings, including two assault rifles an associate recently tried to retrieve in possible violation of a court order against possessing firearms while on bond.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2025
  • It’s backed by a lifetime guarantee, with water-resistant lining that’ll protect your belongings every step of the way.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • In the labyrinthine ways of Boston City Hall, the Building Department rescued the original developer from a BZA hearing, and issued an occupancy permit for a nursing home at 5 Redlands Road.
    Lou Murray, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The shelter's occupancy remains low because the flow of migrants headed north has stopped, Bermúdez said.
    Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In almost every case, those who took photos reported greater levels of enjoyment.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • 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
Noun
  • The 53-year-old Dane is many things that Ten Hag is not.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • However, there are signs that things could be changing, and quickly.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The territory remained under Portuguese rule, apart from a brief Japanese occupation during the Second World War, until 1975, when a left-wing Portuguese government pledged to withdraw from all its colonies.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
  • In this stratified society, citizens are divided into seven status levels that determine every aspect of their lives — from housing to occupation to food rations.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 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 4 Nov. 2025.

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