ENGLISH
REFERENCE

possessing

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //pəˈzɛsɪŋ// UK //pəzˈɛsɪŋ// pos·sess·ing

v. to have or own something. It often describes having a specific quality, like being very talented or having a lot of power.

v. to have as a property, attribute, or quality; to own or occupy. Often used in the present participle form to describe a person's inherent characteristics.


SIMPLE

She is possessing a great deal of talent for music.

CONTEXTUAL

The applicant was hired for possessing the exact technical skills required for the role.

COMPLEX

By possessing such a vast collection of rare manuscripts, the library has become a primary destination for medieval scholars from across the globe.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

Pitfall

He is possessing a car.He has a car.When 'possess' means physical ownership, it is a stative verb and is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form; use 'have' or 'own' instead.

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