possessed; possessing; possesses
2
a
: to seize and take control of : take into one's possession
b
: to enter into and control firmly : dominate
was possessed by demons
c
: to bring or cause to fall under the influence, domination, or control of some emotional or intellectual response or reaction
melancholy possesses her
3
a
obsolete
: to instate as owner
b
: to make the owner or holder
—used in passive construction to indicate simple possession
possessed of riches
possessed of knowledge and experience
Examples of possess in a Sentence
What would possess seemingly sane people to treat concrete walls like trampolines?
—
Alice Park, Time, 16 Apr. 2007
People who experience specific colors when looking at particular letters, such as seeing sky blue when shown an R, possess an unusual abundance of connections in brain areas involved in word and color perception, a new brain-imaging investigation finds.
—Bruce Bower, Science News, 26 May 2007
What does matter is that we come to recognize that playfulness, as a philosophical stance, can be very serious, indeed; and, moreover, that it possesses an unfailing capacity to arouse ridicule and hostility in those among us who crave certainty, reverence, and restraint.
—Tom Robbins, Harper's, September 2004
nations that possess nuclear weapons
The defendant was charged with possessing cocaine.
The ruby was once possessed by an ancient queen.
He dreams of someday possessing great wealth.
He possesses a keen wit.
The drug possesses the potential to suppress tumors.
Do dolphins possess the ability to use language?
Alice Park, Time, 16 Apr. 2007
People who experience specific colors when looking at particular letters, such as seeing sky blue when shown an R, possess an unusual abundance of connections in brain areas involved in word and color perception, a new brain-imaging investigation finds.
—Bruce Bower, Science News, 26 May 2007
What does matter is that we come to recognize that playfulness, as a philosophical stance, can be very serious, indeed; and, moreover, that it possesses an unfailing capacity to arouse ridicule and hostility in those among us who crave certainty, reverence, and restraint.
—Tom Robbins, Harper's, September 2004
nations that possess nuclear weapons
The defendant was charged with possessing cocaine.
The ruby was once possessed by an ancient queen.
He dreams of someday possessing great wealth.
He possesses a keen wit.
The drug possesses the potential to suppress tumors.
Do dolphins possess the ability to use language?
Recent Examples on the Web
Loading your audio article SAN FRANCISCO — The Hayward man behind an iconic 2021 sideshow photograph has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for possessing guns that police found during a raid of his residence, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Later the process is reversed: Elizabeth possesses her son Jack to interact with her former lover.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Abubakar Salim possesses the kind of optimism actors require.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Republicans' narrow majority in the House of Representatives enters Tuesday on the knife's edge, with both parties possessing paths to control in the next Congress.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for possess 
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.
Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Later the process is reversed: Elizabeth possesses her son Jack to interact with her former lover.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Abubakar Salim possesses the kind of optimism actors require.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Republicans' narrow majority in the House of Representatives enters Tuesday on the knife's edge, with both parties possessing paths to control in the next Congress.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for possess
Dictionary Entries Near possess
Cite this Entry
“Possess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possess. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
possess
transitive verb
pos·sess
pə-ˈzes 
: to have possession of
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share