Definitions

possess

[puh-zes] / pəˈzɛs /

VERB

have or obtain

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acquire carry enjoy maintain occupy own retain seize

STRONG

bear control corner dominate grab hog hold

WEAK

be blessed with be born with be endowed with corner the market get hands on get hold of have to name latch on to lock up sit on take over take possession

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fail free lack let go lose need release surrender yield

STRONG

abandon forsake

WEAK

dispossess miss not have

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While American rail companies possess advanced AI tools, foreign competitors are moving aggressively to exploit structural advantages.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

Texas counties only possess powers explicitly granted by the Legislature, he wrote, and Hood County did not even have powers to require a concept plan.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

Octopuses possess chemoreceptors that allow them to smell and taste through touch, which could have affected the results if real prey had been used during testing.

From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026

"If you are found to possess, breed or trade exotic cockroaches such as dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches they will be seized and you could face penalties under federal law."

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

The term concordance refers to the fraction of twins who possess a trait in common.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Vocabulary lists containing possess

The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6

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Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The New SAT: The Language of the Test

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!