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 Cops arrested Jeffrey Kolin, 73, charging him Monday afternoon with murder, manslaughter, strangulation and criminal possession of a weapon in the incident. Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025 At least 11 people were arrested downtown July 5, with charges ranging from weapons possession to battery. Matthew Cupelli, IndyStar, 7 July 2025 Mexico took command after the USMNT’s fast start and dominated for long stretches of a first half in which Mexico enjoyed nearly double the time of possession of the Americans. Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 6 July 2025 Wiegman normally uses a 4-2-3-1 out of possession and then, in possession, pushes her box-to-box midfielder up the field to form a 4-3-3. Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for possession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possession
Noun
  • According to the staff report, Bee Cave has a 7% hotel occupancy tax rate that creates about $550,000 in yearly revenue.
    Naina Srivastava, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • Hotel Carmichael has an 82.8% occupancy rate so far for 2025, beating pre-construction projections of 77%.
    Jake Allen, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • These are my basic rules for safety and enjoyment, at least in a vessel up to about 30 feet.
    George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025
  • Aroma & Taste Profile Pinot Grigio from this region is crafted in a fresh, unoaked style, intended for immediate enjoyment.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 28 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
  • The son of Jewish parents in Poland, Kosiński had survived the Nazi occupation and Holocaust.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 7 July 2025
  • Olof is a former Air Force pilot, an occupation for which one needed perfect vision.
    Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • My mom, on the other hand, continues to live every day in joyful chaos—no systems, just stuff.
    Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2025
  • There are a bunch of other groups of other schools that do literally the same stuff as you.
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Set on a 1,200-acre estate, this remote nature resort (which opened in 2022 with a modernist bathhouse and beachfront baths) may seem like the only hint of human habitation around—but the site has deep roots in Icelandic history.
    Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possession. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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