possess

[pəˈzes]

possess Definition

• 1. have as belonging to one; own
• 2. have as a characteristic, attribute, or quality
• 3. dominate the thoughts, feelings, or desires of (someone); preoccupy

Using possess: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "possess" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  He possesses a large collection of rare books.

• Example

  The painting possesses a certain charm that draws people in.

• Example

  The idea of traveling the world possessed her mind for years.

possess Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for possess

• own
• have
• hold
• control
• dominate

Antonyms for possess

• lack
• need
• dispossess

Phrases with possess

• possess oneself

  regain control of one's emotions or composure

  Example

  She took a deep breath and tried to possess herself before giving the presentation.

• be possessed by

  be strongly influenced or controlled by (a feeling or idea)

  Example

  He was possessed by a desire to succeed at all costs.

• possessive pronoun

  a pronoun that shows ownership or possession, such as 'mine', 'yours', 'his', 'hers', 'theirs'

  Example

  In the sentence 'This is my book', 'my' is a possessive pronoun.

Origins of possess

from Old French 'possesser', from Latin 'possidere', from 'potis' meaning 'able' + 'sedere' meaning 'to sit'

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Summary: possess in Brief

To 'possess' [pəˈzes] something means to have it as belonging to oneself, either as an object or a characteristic. It can also mean to dominate someone's thoughts or feelings. Examples include 'He possesses a large collection of rare books' and 'The idea of traveling the world possessed her mind for years.' Phrases include 'possess oneself,' meaning to regain composure, and 'be possessed by,' meaning to be strongly influenced by a feeling or idea.