Synonyms for possess
Most common
Definitions
- v. 1
To have (something) as, or as if as, an owner; to have, to own.
He does not even possess a working telephone.
Related words
Forms
- Past participle
- possest
e.g. possest → owned, taken, occupied, enjoyed…
Choose the right word
To possess a thing is to have the ownership with control and enjoyment of it. To own is to have the right of property in; to possess is to have that right in actual exercise; to occupy is to have possession and use, with some degree of permanency, with or without ownership.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- occupy Algeria's massive protests occupy every front page.
- seize You have to seize the opportunity with both hands.
By length
- 3 letters
- own1
- 4 letters
- have1, take1, hold1, bear1
- 5 letters
- enjoy2, seize1
- 6 letters
- occupy3, inhold
- 7 letters
- control2, include2
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (enjoy2 = 2 syllables).