possess
puh-ZEHS
Possess (verb) means to have or own something. Example: “Few people possess the patience needed to restore old clocks.”
verb
1
To have or own something.
"Few people possess the patience needed to restore old clocks."
"She possesses a rare talent for languages."
"He was found to possess several stolen items."
2
Of a supernatural force, to take control of a person's body or mind.
"In the ghost story, a spirit seemed to possess the old doll."
"The villagers feared that an evil spirit might possess the traveller."
"In the film, a demon possesses the young girl."
3
To dominate someone's thoughts or behavior strongly.
"Jealousy seemed to possess her completely during the weeks before the competition."
"What could possess a sensible person to behave like that?"
"A strange fear seemed to possess him whenever he entered the building."
How to use possess
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo own or have something, or (in the supernatural sense) to take total control of someone.
Common pairings
possess a quality
possessed by a demon
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- possesses
- Past tense
- possessed, possesst, possest
- Archaic forms
- possessest, possessedst, possesseth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Few people _____ the patience needed to restore old clocks.
Etymology
From Latin possidere, combining potis ("able, master") and sedere ("to sit"), suggesting the idea of being firmly settled in ownership.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
go without
lose
Related words
Rhymes for possess
See all rhymes for possess →Frequently asked questions
What does “possess” mean?
The word “possess” means to have or own something. In plain terms, to own or have something, or (in the supernatural sense) to take total control of someone.
How do you pronounce “possess”?
“Possess” is pronounced puh-ZEHS (/pəˈzɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “possess” in a sentence?
Here is “possess” used in a sentence: “She possesses a rare talent for languages.”
What is another word for “possess”?
Words with a similar meaning to “possess” include have, hold and own.
What is the opposite of “possess”?
The opposite of “possess” — its antonyms — are go without and lose.
What part of speech is “possess”?
“Possess” is a verb.
Where does the word “possess” come from?
The word “possess” comes from Latin. From Latin possidere, combining potis ("able, master") and sedere ("to sit"), suggesting the idea of being firmly settled in ownership.
Is “possess” a common word?
“Possess” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between possess and own?
Own means something legally belongs to you, while possess means to have something in your control, whether or not you legally own it. Possess also covers qualities and abilities, as in "she possesses great patience," where own would be wrong.
How do you spell possess correctly?
Possess has two pairs of double s: p-o-s-s-e-s-s. Common misspellings include "posess" and "posses"; note that posses is actually a real word, the plural of posse.
Is possess more formal than have?
Yes. In everyday speech, "I have a car" is natural, while "I possess a car" sounds official or legal. Possess belongs mainly to formal, legal, and academic writing, and to descriptions of qualities such as "possesses remarkable skill."
