- 1possess something (formal) to have or own something He was charged with possessing a shotgun without a license. I'm afraid this is the only suitcase I possess. The gallery possesses a number of the artist's early works. Belgium was the first European country to possess a full-fledged rail network.
- 2possess something (formal) to have a particular quality or feature I'm afraid he doesn't possess a sense of humor. He credited her with a maturity she did not possess.
- 3[usually passive] possess somebody (literary) (of a feeling, an emotion, etc.) to have a powerful effect on someone and control the way that they think, behave, etc. A terrible fear possessed her.
- 4possess somebody to do something (used in negative sentences and questions) to make someone do something that seems strange or unreasonable What possessed him to say such a thing?
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NAmE//pəˈzɛs//
(not used in the progressive tenses)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they possess he / she / it possesses
past simple possessed
Check pronunciation: possess