Possess
verb
To have or own something.
She possesses an incredible amount of knowledge about art.
Often appears as...
- possess a talent
- possess a skill
verb
To have a special ability, quality, or skill.
He possesses the ability to charm everyone he meets.
Often appears as...
- possess the ability
- possess the skill
verb
Controlled by evil spirit.
They believed the child was possessed by a demon.
Often appears as...
- possessed by a spirit
- possessed by a demon
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To have or own something.
She possesses an incredible amount of knowledge about art.
Often appears as...
- possess a talent
- possess a skill
verb
To have a special ability, quality, or skill.
He possesses the ability to charm everyone he meets.
Often appears as...
- possess the ability
- possess the skill
verb
Controlled by evil spirit.
They believed the child was possessed by a demon.
Often appears as...
- possessed by a spirit
- possessed by a demon
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Objects
People often combine 'possess' with objects they are emotionally attached to, showing importance.
He possesses his grandfather's watch.
Pro Tip 2/3Exclusivity
Using 'possess' can indicate something unique or rare that someone has, not just common ownership.
She possesses a rare talent for singing.
Pro Tip 3/3Legal Ownership
Often used in formal situations like legal context to mean legal ownership or entitlement.
The firm possesses the exclusive rights to the trademark.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Objects
People often combine 'possess' with objects they are emotionally attached to, showing importance.
He possesses his grandfather's watch.
Pro Tip 2/3Exclusivity
Using 'possess' can indicate something unique or rare that someone has, not just common ownership.
She possesses a rare talent for singing.
Pro Tip 3/3Legal Ownership
Often used in formal situations like legal context to mean legal ownership or entitlement.
The firm possesses the exclusive rights to the trademark.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Objects
People often combine 'possess' with objects they are emotionally attached to, showing importance.
He possesses his grandfather's watch.
Pro Tip 2/3Exclusivity
Using 'possess' can indicate something unique or rare that someone has, not just common ownership.
She possesses a rare talent for singing.
Pro Tip 3/3Legal Ownership
Often used in formal situations like legal context to mean legal ownership or entitlement.
The firm possesses the exclusive rights to the trademark.
Never forget "Possess"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
The terrors of sleep...
sleep paralysis regularly and it may be linked to sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, many who experience an episode of sleep paralysis do so infrequently, perhaps only once in a lifetime. So you can rest easy, knowing that an evil entity is not trying to haunt, possess, strangle, or suffocate you.
Video examples
Can you solve the temple...
you realize two of the students have been cursed. At any time, one or both of them might lie, though they also might tell the truth. You know for sure that the curse didn't get you, but you don't know which students can't be trusted, and because the possessed students may lie only occasionally,
Video examples
Why should you read...
and looks back through time for hints of these hidden histories. She wrote, "When one reads of a witch being ducked, of a woman possessed by devils, of a wise woman selling herbs, or even a very remarkable man who had a mother, then I think we're on the track of a lost novelist,
Video examples
We can solve big...
to investigate the portion of climate change that is genuinely not well understood including climate sensitivity which will tell us how bad it will all be and how fast it will happen we need to swiftly replace fossil fuels with the clean energy technologies we do possess
Video examples
A brief history of...
But this means that protected information, whether copyrights, proprietary materials, or state secrets can also be represented as numbers, so possessing or publishing these numbers may be treated as a criminal offense.
Video examples
Mary Roach: 10 things...
is that you would think this woman would have excellent oral hygiene. Sadly -- this is what it said in the journal paper -- "She believed that she was possessed by demons and switched to mouthwash for her oral care."
Video examples
Exorcism PIPE National...
seeks help from Kali monk to purge the spirit The Exorcist must first identify we'll try to find out who's possessing you okay he places feathers between Eric's toes in a belief that they will invoke the
Video examples
Inside the Dead Shed PIPE...
and so there would be potentially a purpose for exporting a live egg, to be hatched elsewhere. In the UK, it's illegal to take or possess wild bird eggs. Sometimes whole clutches can be taken in one go,
Video examples
Exorcism In India PIPE...
called the cave of spirits a home for the dead and last hope for the possessed in the holy waters of the Ganges a man and his helpers prepare for an arduous task
Video examples
Exorcism in India PIPE...
spirits a home for the dead and last hope for the possessed in the holy waters of the Ganges a man and his helpers prepare for an arduous task
Video examples
The terrors of sleep...
sleep paralysis regularly and it may be linked to sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, many who experience an episode of sleep paralysis do so infrequently, perhaps only once in a lifetime. So you can rest easy, knowing that an evil entity is not trying to haunt, possess, strangle, or suffocate you.
Video examples
Can you solve the temple...
you realize two of the students have been cursed. At any time, one or both of them might lie, though they also might tell the truth. You know for sure that the curse didn't get you, but you don't know which students can't be trusted, and because the possessed students may lie only occasionally,
Video examples
Why should you read...
and looks back through time for hints of these hidden histories. She wrote, "When one reads of a witch being ducked, of a woman possessed by devils, of a wise woman selling herbs, or even a very remarkable man who had a mother, then I think we're on the track of a lost novelist,
Video examples
We can solve big...
to investigate the portion of climate change that is genuinely not well understood including climate sensitivity which will tell us how bad it will all be and how fast it will happen we need to swiftly replace fossil fuels with the clean energy technologies we do possess
Video examples
A brief history of...
But this means that protected information, whether copyrights, proprietary materials, or state secrets can also be represented as numbers, so possessing or publishing these numbers may be treated as a criminal offense.
Video examples
Mary Roach: 10 things...
is that you would think this woman would have excellent oral hygiene. Sadly -- this is what it said in the journal paper -- "She believed that she was possessed by demons and switched to mouthwash for her oral care."
Video examples
Exorcism PIPE National...
seeks help from Kali monk to purge the spirit The Exorcist must first identify we'll try to find out who's possessing you okay he places feathers between Eric's toes in a belief that they will invoke the
Video examples
Inside the Dead Shed PIPE...
and so there would be potentially a purpose for exporting a live egg, to be hatched elsewhere. In the UK, it's illegal to take or possess wild bird eggs. Sometimes whole clutches can be taken in one go,
Video examples
Exorcism In India PIPE...
called the cave of spirits a home for the dead and last hope for the possessed in the holy waters of the Ganges a man and his helpers prepare for an arduous task
Video examples
Exorcism in India PIPE...
spirits a home for the dead and last hope for the possessed in the holy waters of the Ganges a man and his helpers prepare for an arduous task
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Stephen Covey
American Educator
It takes a great deal of character strength to apologize quickly out of one's heart rather than out of pity. A person must possess himself and have a deep sense of security in fundamental principles and values in order to genuinely apologize.
Quote examples
Maya Angelou
American Poet
I love wisdom. And you can never be great at anything unless you love it. Not be in love with it, but love the thing, admire the thing. And it seems that if you love the thing, and you don't just want to possess it, it will find you.
Quote examples
Louisa May Alcott
American Novelist
She had a womanly instinct that clothes possess an influence more powerful over many than the worth of character or the magic of manners.
Quote examples
Eugene Delacroix
French Artist
If one considered life as a simple loan, one would perhaps be less exacting. We possess actually nothing; everything goes through us.
Quote examples
Christopher Columbus
Italian Explorer
Gold is a treasure, and he who possesses it does all he wishes to in this world, and succeeds in helping souls into paradise.
Quote examples
Yoko Ono
American Artist
I saw that nothing was permanent. You don't want to possess anything that is dear to you because you might lose it.
Quote examples
Samuel Johnson
English Writer
Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he does not possess.
Quote examples
Charles Baudelaire
French Poet
This life is a hospital in which every patient is possessed with a desire to change his bed.
Quote examples
Louis C. K.
American Comedian
Life isn't something you possess. It's something you take part in, and you witness.
Quote examples
Dale Carnegie
American Writer
Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed.
Quote examples
Stephen Covey
American Educator
It takes a great deal of character strength to apologize quickly out of one's heart rather than out of pity. A person must possess himself and have a deep sense of security in fundamental principles and values in order to genuinely apologize.
Quote examples
Maya Angelou
American Poet
I love wisdom. And you can never be great at anything unless you love it. Not be in love with it, but love the thing, admire the thing. And it seems that if you love the thing, and you don't just want to possess it, it will find you.
Quote examples
Louisa May Alcott
American Novelist
She had a womanly instinct that clothes possess an influence more powerful over many than the worth of character or the magic of manners.
Quote examples
Eugene Delacroix
French Artist
If one considered life as a simple loan, one would perhaps be less exacting. We possess actually nothing; everything goes through us.
Quote examples
Christopher Columbus
Italian Explorer
Gold is a treasure, and he who possesses it does all he wishes to in this world, and succeeds in helping souls into paradise.
Quote examples
Yoko Ono
American Artist
I saw that nothing was permanent. You don't want to possess anything that is dear to you because you might lose it.
Quote examples
Samuel Johnson
English Writer
Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he does not possess.
Quote examples
Charles Baudelaire
French Poet
This life is a hospital in which every patient is possessed with a desire to change his bed.
Quote examples
Louis C. K.
American Comedian
Life isn't something you possess. It's something you take part in, and you witness.
Quote examples
Dale Carnegie
American Writer
Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension