possess
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to have or own a particular quality, skill, or physical object.
to have as a property, attribute, or characteristic; to be in possession of something.
Simple“The new applicant possesses all the technical skills we need for this job.”
In context“The defendant was found to possess several encrypted files that proved his involvement in the data breach.”
UsageAlways transitive; requires a direct object.
- 02 C1 Advanced
to have something in your care or control, even if you do not legally own it.
to have physical control or occupancy of property or land, distinguished from legal title or ownership.
Simple“It is illegal to possess certain chemicals without a special permit.”
In context“The court had to determine whether the tenant continued to possess the premises after the lease had officially expired.”
UsageUsed specifically in legal contexts regarding property and evidence.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to be controlled by a very strong emotion or idea.
of an emotion, idea, or impulse: to dominate or influence a person's mind or actions completely.
Simple“I don't know what possessed me to say something so rude to her.”
In context“A sudden, inexplicable rage seemed to possess him, causing him to storm out of the meeting without a word of explanation.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice or with 'what' in questions like 'What possessed you?'
- 04 C1 Advanced
of a spirit or demon: to take control of a person's body or mind.
of a supernatural entity: to inhabit and exert total control over a person or animal.
Simple“In the movie, a dark spirit possesses the young girl and changes her voice.”
In context“Ancient legends spoke of a vengeful ghost that would possess any traveler who dared to sleep within the ruined temple walls.”
UsageCommonly found in religious, horror, or mythological contexts.
Usage possess characteristic · possess degree · possess function
“He added that Iran should not be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.”
“One day in January, what comes into Nicholas is the god Pan – a possessing, deranging, life-threatening spirit.”
PIE word *pótis From Middle English possessen (“to have, own; to obtain possession of; to inhabit, occupy”) [and other forms], from Middle French possesser, possessier, Old French possesser, possessier (“to have, own, possess; to dominate”), from Latin possessus (“possessed; seized”), the perfect passive participle of possideō (“to have, hold, own, possess; to have possessions; to take control or possession of, occupy, seize; to abide, inhabit, occupy; to dominate”), from potis (“able, capable, possible”) (from Proto-Indo-European pótis (“master; ruler; husband”)) + sedeō (“to sit; to be seated; to be established, hold firm”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sed- (“to sit”)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.