possession
Possession (noun) means something that a person owns. Example: “He packed his few possessions into a single bag.”
How to use possession
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething owned, the state of owning or holding something, or control of the ball in sports.
Word forms
possessioned past tense, possessions plural, possessions singular
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").
Related words
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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Vocabulary lists that include possession: