Possess Meaning in English
word
/pəˈzɛs/
puh-ZES
/pəzˈɛs/
puh-ZES
Definition
To have or own something. It can also mean to be controlled by a feeling or spirit.
Usage & Nuances
'Possess' is formal and often used in legal, academic, or technical contexts. In daily conversation, 'have' or 'own' is more common. When used about emotions or spirits, it's typically literary or metaphorical: 'possessed by anger'. Not used with family or abstract qualities ('I possess a good wife' is unnatural).
Spanish: poseer - tenerPortuguese (BR): possuir - terPortuguese (PT): possuir - terChinese (Simplified): 拥有 - 占有Chinese (Traditional): 擁有 - 佔有Hindi: स्वामित्व रखना - मालिक होनाArabic: يمتلك - يملكBengali: অধিকার করা - মালিক হওয়াRussian: обладать - владетьJapanese: 所有する - 取り憑くVietnamese: sở hữu - chiếm giữ (do cảm xúc hay ma quỷ)Korean: 소유하다 - 지배하다(감정이나 영혼이)Turkish: sahip olmak - ele geçirmek (duygu veya ruh tarafından)Urdu: مالک ہونا - قابو میں آنا (جذبات یا روح کی طرف سے)Indonesian: memiliki - dikuasai (oleh perasaan atau roh)
Example Sentences
He possesses three cars.
basic
Do you possess a valid passport?
basic
Some animals possess sharp claws.
basic
You don't have to possess great wealth to be happy.
natural
Fear can sometimes possess a person completely.
natural
The building was said to be possessed by ghosts.
natural