ENGLISH
REFERENCE

possesses

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //pəˈzɛsəz// UK //pəzˈɛsɪz// pos·sess·es

v. to have or own something. You use this word when you want to sound a bit more formal than just saying 'has'.

v. to have as a quality, characteristic, or property; to own or occupy. The third-person singular present form of 'possess'.


SIMPLE

She possesses a rare talent for painting.

CONTEXTUAL

The old house still possesses a certain charm despite its peeling paint and overgrown garden.

COMPLEX

The candidate possesses all the necessary qualifications for the role, including extensive experience in international law and a deep understanding of regional trade agreements.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. It is a stative verb, meaning it is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form.

Pitfall

He is possessing a car.He possesses a car.As a stative verb describing ownership, it is not used in the continuous tense.

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