possessverb [ T ]
uk/pəˈzes/us/pəˈzes/possess verb [ T ] (OWN)
C1 to have or own something, or to have a particular quality:
I don't possess a single DVD (= I don't have even one DVD).
In the past the root of this plant was thought to possess magical powers.
More examples
- We're trying to bring out the artistic talents that many people possess without realizing it.
- She had already sold everything of value that she possessed.
- Ruth possessed great writing skills.
- He was charged with possessing a fake passport.
- "I'm arresting you on suspicion of illegally possessing drugs, " said the police officer.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Having and owning - general words
- -owned
- attach to sb/sth
- be endowed with sth idiom
- bear
- bearer
- belong
- belong to sb
- call
- claim
- endow
- glint
- hold
- interest
- mistress
- not/never want for anything idiom
- owner
- ownership
- proprietress
- stake somewhere/sth out
- want
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possess verb [ T ] (CONTROL)
(of a wish or an idea) to take control over a person's mind, making that person behave in a very strange way:
[ + to infinitive ] Whatever possessed him to wear that appalling jacket!
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Controlling and being in charge
- aggrandize
- assume
- assumption
- authoritative
- balance of power
- divide
- dominant
- have sb by the balls idiom
- have sb eating out of your hand idiom
- have sb in the palm of your hand idiom
- have sth in hand idiom
- have/hold the whip hand idiom
- heel
- hook
- pull
- pull rank idiom
- pull the strings idiom
- putty
- regimentation
- rein
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