Possession
noun
Something that you own or have.
The stolen possessions were eventually returned to their rightful owner.
Often appears as...
- personal possession
- in possession of
noun
Control or occupation of something.
The team had possession of the ball for most of the game.
Often appears as...
- gain possession
- take possession
Usage tips
Sporting
noun
A territory or country that is controlled by another.
Puerto Rico is a United States possession.
Often appears as...
- territorial possession
- overseas possession
noun
The state of having illegal substances.
He was charged with drug possession.
Often appears as...
- drug possession
- possession charge
Usage tips
Legal
noun
The state of being controlled by a demon or spirit.
The priest performed an exorcism to free the girl from possession.
Often appears as...
- demonic possession
- spirit possession
Usage tips
Disapproving
Religious
noun
Something that you own or have.
The stolen possessions were eventually returned to their rightful owner.
Often appears as...
- personal possession
- in possession of
noun
Control or occupation of something.
The team had possession of the ball for most of the game.
Often appears as...
- gain possession
- take possession
Usage tips
Sporting
noun
A territory or country that is controlled by another.
Puerto Rico is a United States possession.
Often appears as...
- territorial possession
- overseas possession
noun
The state of having illegal substances.
He was charged with drug possession.
Often appears as...
- drug possession
- possession charge
Usage tips
Legal
noun
The state of being controlled by a demon or spirit.
The priest performed an exorcism to free the girl from possession.
Often appears as...
- demonic possession
- spirit possession
Usage tips
Disapproving
Religious
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Personal attachment
Used for objects that are not just owned, but also have personal or emotional value.
The necklace wasn't pricey, but it was her most cherished possession.
Pro Tip 2/3Ownership proof
Often implies that one can prove ownership through documents or receipts.
They asked him to prove the bike was his possession.
Pro Tip 3/3Custody implication
Can suggest care or custody of items, not just ownership.
As the last to leave, he had to take possession of the meeting notes.
Pro Tip 1/3Personal attachment
Used for objects that are not just owned, but also have personal or emotional value.
The necklace wasn't pricey, but it was her most cherished possession.
Pro Tip 2/3Ownership proof
Often implies that one can prove ownership through documents or receipts.
They asked him to prove the bike was his possession.
Pro Tip 3/3Custody implication
Can suggest care or custody of items, not just ownership.
As the last to leave, he had to take possession of the meeting notes.
Pro Tip 1/3Personal attachment
Used for objects that are not just owned, but also have personal or emotional value.
The necklace wasn't pricey, but it was her most cherished possession.
Pro Tip 2/3Ownership proof
Often implies that one can prove ownership through documents or receipts.
They asked him to prove the bike was his possession.
Pro Tip 3/3Custody implication
Can suggest care or custody of items, not just ownership.
As the last to leave, he had to take possession of the meeting notes.
Compare with
assetbelongingscontroldominionestateholdoccupationownershippropertyproprietorshiptenure
Never forget "Possession"
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Video examples
Giant Python Attacks PIPE...
open wound and all this all this festival oh man he bit me really I'm gonna try and move slowly towards no no way I just don't want to be bitten again I really they had bosey still grabbing you know it went okay he's nervous I said just among just possession just
Video examples
Lesley Hazleton: The...
At best, he thought, it had to have been a hallucination -- a trick of the eye or the ear, perhaps, or his own mind working against him. At worst, possession -- that he'd been seized by an evil jinn, a spirit out to deceive him, even to crush the life out of him.
Video examples
When to use apostrophes...
to mark contraction, to mark the plural of single letters. Most of the time, if you see an apostrophe hovering helpfully near a word, it's trying to mark possession or contraction. First, let's look at how the apostrophe marks possession.
Video examples
Poor Abandoned Baby...
instinct to protect chicks so much so that birds that have not managed to breed will try to take possession of a stray or abandoned chick but this fostering never succeeds because the adult has no partner to help in rearing the waif
Video examples
My life as an outsider PIPE...
and she said to me old photographs and food then I decided to look at this idea and take it a lot further and I started to look at how you could carry your possessions with you much more efficiently so I looked at how you can
Video examples
Why are we so attached...
their brains showed more activity in a region that usually flickers into life whenever we think about ourselves. Another reason we're so fond of our possessions is that from a young age we believe they have a unique essence.
Video examples
Elon Musk talks Twitter,...
timeouts i think are better or uh than sort of permanent bands and um but just just in general like i said uh how how it won't be perfect but i think we wanted to really uh have like so the possession and reality that
Video examples
The myth of King Midas...
His life, he thought, was lacking luster; what he needed was more gold. The god sent the power to turn anything the king touched to gold surging through Midas. Ecstatic, he turned to his possessions.
Video examples
Orphan Koala Plays with...
in the wild his mother would tip him out of the pouch and encourage him to climb and explore the trees exercise over he finally gets his prized possession back
Video examples
Inside Notre Dame PIPE The...
curators this this is it this is it this is very rare to show it like that it's been the prize possession of the
Video examples
Giant Python Attacks PIPE...
open wound and all this all this festival oh man he bit me really I'm gonna try and move slowly towards no no way I just don't want to be bitten again I really they had bosey still grabbing you know it went okay he's nervous I said just among just possession just
Video examples
Lesley Hazleton: The...
At best, he thought, it had to have been a hallucination -- a trick of the eye or the ear, perhaps, or his own mind working against him. At worst, possession -- that he'd been seized by an evil jinn, a spirit out to deceive him, even to crush the life out of him.
Video examples
When to use apostrophes...
to mark contraction, to mark the plural of single letters. Most of the time, if you see an apostrophe hovering helpfully near a word, it's trying to mark possession or contraction. First, let's look at how the apostrophe marks possession.
Video examples
Poor Abandoned Baby...
instinct to protect chicks so much so that birds that have not managed to breed will try to take possession of a stray or abandoned chick but this fostering never succeeds because the adult has no partner to help in rearing the waif
Video examples
My life as an outsider PIPE...
and she said to me old photographs and food then I decided to look at this idea and take it a lot further and I started to look at how you could carry your possessions with you much more efficiently so I looked at how you can
Video examples
Why are we so attached...
their brains showed more activity in a region that usually flickers into life whenever we think about ourselves. Another reason we're so fond of our possessions is that from a young age we believe they have a unique essence.
Video examples
Elon Musk talks Twitter,...
timeouts i think are better or uh than sort of permanent bands and um but just just in general like i said uh how how it won't be perfect but i think we wanted to really uh have like so the possession and reality that
Video examples
The myth of King Midas...
His life, he thought, was lacking luster; what he needed was more gold. The god sent the power to turn anything the king touched to gold surging through Midas. Ecstatic, he turned to his possessions.
Video examples
Orphan Koala Plays with...
in the wild his mother would tip him out of the pouch and encourage him to climb and explore the trees exercise over he finally gets his prized possession back
Video examples
Inside Notre Dame PIPE The...
curators this this is it this is it this is very rare to show it like that it's been the prize possession of the
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian Leader
Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy.
Quote examples
Christopher Columbus
Italian Explorer
My desire was not to pass any island without taking possession, so that, one having been taken, the same may be said of all.
Quote examples
Epicurus
Greek Philosopher
Of all the things which wisdom provides to make us entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.
Quote examples
Jane Austen
British Writer
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
Quote examples
John Locke
English Philosopher
It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.
Quote examples
Sophocles
Greek Poet
One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession.
Quote examples
James Baldwin
American Novelist
No people come into possession of a culture without having paid a heavy price for it.
Quote examples
Orson Bean
American Actor
I don't spend my life making money to spend tomorrow, or to acquire possessions.
Quote examples
Pearl S. Buck
American Novelist
Men and women should own the world as a mutual possession.
Quote examples
Samuel Smiles
Scottish Author
Character is property. It is the noblest of possessions.
Quote examples
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian Leader
Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy.
Quote examples
Christopher Columbus
Italian Explorer
My desire was not to pass any island without taking possession, so that, one having been taken, the same may be said of all.
Quote examples
Epicurus
Greek Philosopher
Of all the things which wisdom provides to make us entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.
Quote examples
Jane Austen
British Writer
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
Quote examples
John Locke
English Philosopher
It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of the truth.
Quote examples
Sophocles
Greek Poet
One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession.
Quote examples
James Baldwin
American Novelist
No people come into possession of a culture without having paid a heavy price for it.
Quote examples
Orson Bean
American Actor
I don't spend my life making money to spend tomorrow, or to acquire possessions.
Quote examples
Pearl S. Buck
American Novelist
Men and women should own the world as a mutual possession.
Quote examples
Samuel Smiles
Scottish Author
Character is property. It is the noblest of possessions.
Example 1 of 10
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