possessive
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.
See Examples For:
She describes her three-year relationship with Paiva as incredibly loving, although she admits to being the more possessive of the two.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Ms Pilley, 38, had recently ended her year-long secret relationship with Gilroy, who was described in court as possessive and manipulative.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2025
Laundrie objected, saying he felt "neglected" and eventually became possessive.
From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2025
As it moved through TikTok and Instagram, the term focused solely on the plural possessive, as people jokingly addressed their intangible audiences.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2024
Their, the possessive form of they, is often used mistakenly for his or her, as in: No one in their right mind pays retail.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
I wrote “our sycamore” above, but great trees defy possessives.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2024
His world, at least as related to the tiny mark that denotes possessives and the omission of letters from certain words, appears to be crashing down around him.
From Slate ● May 23, 2013
Booker Prize-winning author James Kelman uses apostrophes for possessives but not for contractions in his most recent work.
From Slate ● May 23, 2013
That’s the only good reason I can think of for this next exception to the usual rules on possessives.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
The most obvious examples are iterated possessives such as my mother’s brother’s wife’s father’s cousin.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Vocabulary lists containing possessive
Unit 1: Telling Details
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Language and Grammar - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
