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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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 The suspect was wanted on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon through the ATF in the Northern District of Texas, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Department of Correction. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2025 Her voting rights, too, were restored, but she was subsequently convicted of drug possession and child endangerment. Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 23 June 2025 Elijah Millar, 19, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was charged Friday with unlawful possession of a firearm, the Justice Department announced. Doc Louallen, ABC News, 23 June 2025 Davis and Wells were arrested and taken to the Clark County Detention Center, where they were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, unauthorized use of a vehicle and unlawful sale and delivery of depressants/stimulants. Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for possession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possession
Noun
  • Last year, the studios that operate the majority of stages in L.A. posted average occupancy rates of 63 percent, down from more than 93 percent from 2016 to 2022.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2025
  • Geneva shows strong potential for short-term rentals, with 73% occupancy rates, daily rates of 127 euros and possible monthly revenue of 34,562 euros, per Airbtics.
    Johan Hajji, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Being mindful of the weather, staying hydrated, using reef-safe sunscreen and knowing how to identify a rip current are all practical ways to minimize risk while maximizing enjoyment.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
  • Here, Rosenstock explains the enjoyment and challenges of breathing life and taboo fun into someone on the edge of death.
    Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • The challenge has always been to figure out how to personalize things without spending inordinate amounts of time and money mapping out every possible path a student might take.
    Ray Ravaglia, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
  • As a business owner, higher profit margins, all other things being equal, are more valuable.
    Bill Stone, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Her various occupations, paid and unpaid, included teaching convicts at an area penitentiary and substitute-teaching in junior high.
    Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
  • On Christmas Day in 1941, British officials surrendered to Imperial Japanese forces in the Peninsula, ushering in four years of Japanese occupation in Hong Kong.
    Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • Moving is consistently considered one of the most stressful life events, and a lot of this has to do with the sheer amount of stuff involved.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
  • There would be nightclub stuff happening in the evenings.
    Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Europe and Japan will provide a larger habitation module to accommodate astronauts for up to 90 days, the United Arab Emirates has agreed to build an airlock to add spacewalking capability to the Gateway, and Canada is developing a robotic arm.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2025
  • On May 7, Gardner city officials declared the near 200-unit complex at 101 Aspen St. unfit for habitation because the deteriorating water infrastructure left tenants with unreliable and inconsistent water service.
    Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possession. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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