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possessing

ADJECTIVE
occupying
Synonyms
STRONG
commanding controlling covering holding maintaining obtaining owning permeating pervading placed posted remaining residing resting sitting situated staying tenanting
WEAK
assigned to living in settled on taking up
Antonyms
WEAK
gone leaving removing
ADJECTIVE
retaining
Synonyms
STRONG
accommodating arresting cherishing commemorating confining embracing employing engaging having hiring holding keeping owning preserving remembering reserving restraining saving securing seizing suppressing sustaining taking treasuring withholding working
WEAK
holding back

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and possessing an offensive weapon close to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's home in Norfolk.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Her voice is different, deeper, possessing a lifetime of experience that her teenage self couldn’t have possibly imagined.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

A system may perform highly sophisticated computations without possessing any subjective experience at all.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Dimona hosts a facility widely believed to possess the Middle East's sole nuclear arsenal, although Israel has never confirmed possessing nuclear weapons.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

She felt a fierce joy possessing her, that she could command these immortal presences.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

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