possession

Pluralpossessions (some meanings)

Formspossessions, possessioning, possessioned

1. 1
   noununcountable

   The state of having or keeping something that belongs to you.

   The car has been in my family's possession for twenty years.

   He took possession of the house after signing the papers.

   Similarownership, proprietorship, retention

   Oppositeabsence

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   Something that belongs to you, like a toy, a phone, or a house.

   That old watch is his most treasured possession.

   She packed her few possessions into a single suitcase.

   Similarproperty, belongings

3. 3
   noununcountable

   Having or using something even when it does not legally belong to you.

   Like borrowing a library book: it is in your hands, but it still belongs to the library.

   The renters have possession of the apartment until the lease ends.

   The police found the stolen bike in his possession.

   Similaroccupancy, custody, control, tenure

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   Land or a country that a different country rules and controls.

   The island was a possession of Spain for three hundred years.

   The king lost several of his overseas possessions in the war.

   Similarcolony, territory, dependency, dominion

5. 5
   noununcountable

   Having the ball in a game, so your team can try to score.

   Our team kept possession of the ball for most of the game.

   She lost possession when the other player took the ball away.

   Similarcontrol

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A state in which a demon or evil spirit is believed to control a person's body.

   The villagers believed the strange illness was a sign of possession.

   In the movie, a priest tries to free the girl from possession.

   Note
7. 7
   noununcountable

   A state in which strong feelings or madness seem to take over a person.

   He smashed the chair in his anger, as if under some strange possession.

   Her grief felt like possession, leaving no room for any other thought.

   Similarobsession, frenzy, madness, mania

8. 8
   noununcountable

   In grammar, a way of showing that one thing belongs to another, like 'Anna's book.'

   In English, possession is often shown by adding an apostrophe and an s.

   The phrase 'my mother's car' expresses possession.

   Note
9. 9
   nouncountable

   In Australian football, each time a player kicks the ball or passes it by hand.

   The star player recorded his thirtieth possession late in the final quarter.

   Coaches count every possession to see which players touched the ball most.

   Similardisposal

   Note

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