possession

noun

pə-ˈze-shən How to pronounce possession (audio)
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
as in belongings
possessions plural transportable items that one owns we packed up all of our possessions and excitedly moved into a new house

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 student pointed out that Donalds had benefited from a diversion program when he was arrested for marijuana possession in 1997. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 He was convicted of unlawful possession, according to official records. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 With the infinity stones in their possession, the Avengers create their own gauntlet to harness their power, and Banner uses it to restore the other half of the universe. — Michael McDonough, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026 Investigators later obtained two additional warrants charging Gosnell with possession of a weapon during a violent crime. — Brittany Miller , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for possession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possession
  1. hands
  2. belongings
  3. occupancy
  4. enjoyment
  5. things
  6. occupation
  7. stuff
  8. habitation
Noun
  • In Guadagnino’s hands, Artificial zooms in on the interpersonal relationships that have global reverberations.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Some shots dwell on the band member’s hands working their instruments.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of hands
Noun
  • The woman was able to break free and rushed out of the home, not returning until Ross was gone to gather her belongings, according to the report.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Policies are available to renters and businesses, but most are purchased by homeowners covering up to $250,000 for their property and $100,000 for belongings.
    — MICHAEL PHILLIS, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of belongings
Noun
  • Use a long, slender trowel to dig a single-occupancy hole, or dig a wide hole to plant a group of bulbs.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Just that morning, a City of Durham Fire Department inspector had visited the brewery and provided Ponysaurus with a fresh business occupancy inspection.
    — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of occupancy
Noun
  • They were found to sharply increase how long people continued to engage, but often for reasons of anger and curiosity, rather than enjoyment.
    — Pascal Vrticka, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Richardson discusses how his early fascination with science and his enjoyment of science fiction has influenced his poetry and considers the way his aphorisms counterbalance his more lyric poems.
    — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of enjoyment
Noun
  • After things go awry in the Congo, the family in The Poisonwood Bible dissolves readily.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In some ways, things have changed considerably for Reid over the last year after the television adaptation of her 2019 novel, Heated Rivalry, became a cultural phenomena.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of things
Noun
  • Justifying the use of force on their campuses, schools primarily deferred to just this idea of protocol, citing arcane policy mandates to disband encampments and occupations so that academic production could resume its flow.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • First, there’s the occupation and the violence itself that somehow becomes ‘normal’ or is viewed as normal.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of occupation
Noun
  • A lot of the Hamilton stuff is quite emotional and deeply meaningful to the greater themes of the book.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
  • There's a lot of places where, not just the immigration message, but just what stuff costs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stuff
Noun
  • Italy’s commitment to build a habitation module and Japan’s contribution of a pressurized rover offer something new to NASA, which didn’t have contracts with US companies to do that work.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Many Gazans have remained in homes now unsafe for habitation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of habitation

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possessing
possession
possessionless
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Cite this Entry

“Possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possession. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on possession

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about possession

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