possession
puh-ZEHSHN
Possession (noun) means something that a person owns. Example: “He packed his few possessions into a single bag.”
noun
1
Something that a person owns.
"He packed his few possessions into a single bag."
"The old watch was her most treasured possession."
"Please keep your valuable possessions in the hotel safe."
2
The state of owning, holding, or controlling something.
"The stolen goods were found in her possession."
"The house has been in our family's possession for generations."
"Possession of a library card lets you borrow books for free."
3
Control of the ball in a sport.
"The team dominated possession in the second half."
"Our striker lost possession near the halfway line."
"Passing quickly helps a team keep possession of the ball."
4
The state of being controlled by a supernatural force.
"The exorcism was meant to end her possession."
"In the film, the girl's possession by a ghost frightens the whole village."
"The old story describes the possession of a young man by a spirit."
How to use possession
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething owned, the state of owning or holding something, or control of the ball in sports.
Common pairings
in possession of
personal possessions
gain possession
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Word forms
- Plural
- possessions
- Third person singular
- possessions
- Past tense
- possessioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He packed his few _____ into a single bag.
Etymology
From Latin possessio, related to possidere ("to possess").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for possession
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for possession →
Frequently asked questions
What does “possession” mean?
The word “possession” means something that a person owns. In plain terms, something owned, the state of owning or holding something, or control of the ball in sports.
How do you pronounce “possession”?
“Possession” is pronounced puh-ZEHSHN (/pəˈzɛʃn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “possession” in a sentence?
Here is “possession” used in a sentence: “He packed his few possessions into a single bag.”
What part of speech is “possession”?
“Possession” is a noun.
Where does the word “possession” come from?
The word “possession” comes from Latin. From Latin possessio, related to possidere ("to possess").
Is “possession” a common word?
“Possession” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “possession” have?
“Possession” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something that a person owns.
What is the difference between possession and ownership?
Ownership is the legal right to something; possession is the state of holding or controlling it, which is not always the same thing. A borrowed book is in your possession but remains the lender's property. In everyday use, though, a person's possessions simply means the things they own.
How do you spell possession — possession or posession?
The correct spelling is possession, with two pairs of double s: p-o-s-s-e-s-s-i-o-n. "Posession" and "possesion" are frequent misspellings; remembering that the word contains four s's in two pairs helps.
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