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 second house, for example, is traditionally associated with your finances, income, possessions and personal resources. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 Courtney McGee Cannon, 43, pleaded to three counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026 Dwyer was arrested on a charge of unlawful transfer or possession of machine guns. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026 An investigation revealed the suspect was under the influence and in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. — Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 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
  • Barron, last year’s first-round pick, nearly had a second interception minutes later, but the ball squirted through his hands.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • On the flight after the impromptu stop, Yeltsin sat motionless with his head in his hands, considering the bare shelves of Soviet food markets.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of hands
Noun
  • With most of their belongings still overseas, families have had to decide whether to buy a car and replace clothing, according to advocates, sailors and family members.
    — Steve Walsh, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026
  • While the woman was locked out of the home, according to the statement, Smith was packing his and the child’s belongings.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of belongings
Noun
  • Global parks attendance grew 4% from last year, per-guest spending increased and even the occupancy of the company’s domestic resort hotels hit a whopping 91%.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Summary The sight of empty offices on pleasant days is prompting a re-evaluation of commercial real estate, but experts argue occupancy is a flawed metric for office value.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of occupancy
Noun
  • The survey revealed that when parents evaluate family-friendly retail and experiences, fun and enjoyment (68 percent) and spending time together (66 percent) ranked higher than price and affordability (60 percent).
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Audiences will likely get more out of it if they’re caught up on the entire franchise, but that is not required for enjoyment and understanding.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of enjoyment
Noun
  • The City of Atlanta and Fulton County’s Board of Commissioners have been trading negotiations over the sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center, and things have started to get ugly.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The month of August offers some respite, a chance to reflect and reset before September kicks things into gear once more.
    — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of things
Noun
  • The Supreme Court has also recognized the historic exception for children born to enemy forces during hostile occupation.
    — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The small gains made by Afghan women during the United States’ 20-year occupation were about to end.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of occupation
Noun
  • Apart from the condition in the bottles, the liquid in them is the stuff of collectors’ wildest dreams.
    — Tony Sachs, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The discovery that our world emerges from a microscopic world of molecules, which emerges from an even more microscopic world of subatomic particles (which in turn emerges from even stranger stuff) triggered the rewriting of our theories of matter.
    — Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of stuff
Noun
  • Learn About Local Cultures Route 89 passes through several areas that have a rich history of human habitation dating back millennia.
    — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Vehicles cannot be rented or leased for human habitation on public streets.
    — Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of habitation

Browse Nearby Words

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 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on possession

Nglish: Translation of possession for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about possession

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