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 He has also been charged two drug counts related to the unlawful possession of prescription medication, according to the complaint. Clara McMichael, ABC News, 18 July 2025 The Seattle Mariners entered Friday in second place in the American League West and possession of the final American League Wild Card spot. Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025 An 18-year-old man from Naperville was arrested at 2:23 a.m. July 13 at Aurora Avenue and River Bend Road on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and unlawful possession or consumption of alcohol by a minor or person under the age of 21. Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025 Danilo Amilcar-Escobar, who was deported three times since April 2024, had pending charges for strangulation, domestic battery and cocaine possession, according to ICE. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for possession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possession
Noun
  • Its portfolio boasted an overall occupancy rate of 94.3%, with a weighted average lease expiry of 4.8 years.
    Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • In addition to the continuation of the grocery tax, Aurora is also proposing doubling its hotel occupancy tax rate of 3%.
    R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Beyond cleanliness, a comfortable bed, and attentive service, the quality of coffee served can make or break a guest’s enjoyment of their hotel or resort stay.
    Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Pleasure of enjoyment, pleasure of discovery, pleasure of being challenged.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 11 July 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
  • In the early 1980s, the first generation of Ocalan’s PKK fighters were trained by leftist Palestinian militants in Bekaa Valley in Lebanon and the PKK fought alongside the same Palestinian militants against the Israeli occupation of Lebanon in 1982.
    Ragip Soylu, Time, 18 July 2025
  • The law’s application to the inherently dangerous occupation of professional sports has been unclear.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Noun
  • And then all of the family stuff for me really hit.
    Tommy McArdle, People.com, 22 July 2025
  • That’s a lot of crazy stuff happening beneath the water.
    Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the prospect that asteroid orbits may be deliberately changed for research and mining, or in the future, by habitation, has gained the attention of a student team from Imperial College London, the University of Santiago de Compostela and Cairo University.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 12 July 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possession. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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