possesses

verb

present tense third-person singular of possess
as in owns
to keep, control, or experience as one's own she possesses a keen insight into people

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of possesses Her path crosses with that of Inocência, an enslaved Black woman who possesses healing knowledge, knows the land, and devises her own strategies of resistance. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 More than 5% of equipment and materials supplied to US chipmakers originate in China, which also possesses some 90% of the rare earths required to manufacture semiconductors, a new report showed. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026 The silhouette of the 2CV possesses a distinct European character that newer global competitors simply cannot replicate. — New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026 Like Wilde, Basil possesses an idealistic devotion to beauty and love that proves his undoing. — Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 Africa possesses enormous energy resources, including offshore oil and gas fields along the coasts of Namibia and South Africa and copper—which is used in electric grids—in central Africa. — Jared Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026 The Justice Department argued that the decision demonstrated that Congress possesses at least some authority to establish voter qualifications in federal elections. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 When new, concrete possesses a thin, temporarily protective layer that, if not maintained, will wear away, exposing the interior, which gradually crumbles. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 Just as Carolyn remained her authentic self despite all eyes being on her, Sarah possesses that same rare individuality. — Sarah Michelle Gellar, Time, 30 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possesses
  1. owns
  2. has
  3. retains
  4. enjoys
Verb
  • Her mother taught her to drive in a 1961 Porsche 356 coupe, a car Brundage now owns.
    — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • De Soto data center Digital Realty is a global real estate company that owns and operates data centers.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of owns
Verb
  • The mid-weight denim is rigid, made of 100 percent cotton rigid denim and has a bit of a rustic feel.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • When healthy, Ohtani has the ability to break out of even the most dire of slumps with an otherworldly performance, like that three-homer (as a hitter), 10-strikeout (as a pitcher) all-timer.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of has
Verb
  • The latest unit retains the same first six forward ratios as the outgoing Carrera T’s manual transmission, but ditches its predecessor’s somewhat awkward and largely superfluous seventh gear.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Lerner retains her credit as executive proucer alongside Helford; Curtis; Eric and Kim Tannenbaum and Jason Wang for the Tannenbaum Company; Scott Schwartz; and Lionsgate Television.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of retains
Verb
  • Arasha enjoys a few choice manipulative moves in her litany of parts, reversing situations that seem to have no obvious good outcome.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Ye-ji wants an interview, and Mi-ok enjoys the interest and attention.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of enjoys

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Cite this Entry

“Possesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possesses. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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