possess

verb

(transitive) To have (something) as, or as if as, an owner; to have, to own.

(transitive) Of an idea, thought, etc.: to dominate (someone's mind); to strongly influence.

(transitive) Of a supernatural entity, especially one regarded as evil: to take control of (an animal or person's body or mind).

(transitive) To dominate (a person) sexually; to have sexual intercourse with (a person).

(transitive) (law) To have control or possession of, but not to own (a chattel or an interest in land).

(transitive) (also reflexive, chiefly literary and poetic) Of a person: to control or dominate (oneself or someone, or one's own or someone's heart, mind, etc.).

(intransitive) To dominate sexually; to have sexual intercourse with.

(intransitive) To inhabit or occupy a place.

(transitive) (archaic) To cause an idea, thought, etc., to strongly affect or influence (someone); to inspire, to preoccupy.

(transitive) (archaic) To occupy the attention or time of (someone).

(transitive) (archaic) (also literary) To obtain or seize (something); to gain, to win.

(transitive) (archaic) (also reflexive) Chiefly followed by of or with: to vest ownership of something in (oneself or someone); to bestow upon, to endow.

(transitive) (obsolete) To give (someone) information or knowledge; to acquaint, to inform.

(transitive) (obsolete) To have the ability to use, or knowledge of (a language, a skill, etc.)

(transitive) (obsolete) To inhabit or occupy (a place).

(transitive) (obsolete) Chiefly followed by that: to convince or persuade (someone).

Roots

sedeo-sess · Latin · sit

Synonyms for possess

havev ownadj acquirev obtainv seizev containv holdv retainv boastv carryv graspv occupyv embodyv procurev

Synonyms & related words for possess

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of possess — including have, own, acquire, obtain, seize, contain. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to possess

Explore words related to possess — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include seise, possession, possessors, wield, covet, acquirement, prehensible, reacquire. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for possess

Common synonyms for possess include have, own, acquire, obtain, seize, contain, hold, retain — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does possess come from?

The word possess breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root -sess, from Latin sedeo (“sit”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.