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
Investing in talent development ensures that employees possess the skills needed to navigate complex environments.
—Kiran Yelamaneni, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Furthermore, dealers who possess or sell artifacts previously smuggled into the United States contrary to federal law may be required to forfeit them—a compelling incentive to investigate and verify an item’s provenance.
—Patricia Failing, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2024
The understanding of human motivation that informs the design of the Uber app essentially assumes that all drivers aim to maximize their earnings and that each one possesses a comprehensive understanding of how to optimize their EPH.
—L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2024
Officials allege that Intel's CPU chips possess vulnerabilities in security management and flaws in product quality.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for possess 
Kiran Yelamaneni, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Furthermore, dealers who possess or sell artifacts previously smuggled into the United States contrary to federal law may be required to forfeit them—a compelling incentive to investigate and verify an item’s provenance.
—Patricia Failing, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2024
The understanding of human motivation that informs the design of the Uber app essentially assumes that all drivers aim to maximize their earnings and that each one possesses a comprehensive understanding of how to optimize their EPH.
—L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2024
Officials allege that Intel's CPU chips possess vulnerabilities in security management and flaws in product quality.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for possess
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'possess.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near possess
Cite this Entry
“Possess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possess. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
possess
transitive verb
pos·sess
pə-ˈzes 
: to have possession of
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