pos ‧ ses ‧ sion W3 /pəˈzeʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
1 . HAVING SOMETHING [uncountable] formal if something is in your possession, you own it, or you have obtained it from somewhere
in sb’s possession
The house has been in the family’s possession since the 1500s.
That information is not in our possession.
in possession of something
She was found in possession of stolen goods.
How did the painting come into your possession (=how did you get it) ?
The finance company now has possession of the house.
We didn’t take possession of (=get and start using) the car until a few days after the auction.
2 . SOMETHING YOU OWN [countable usually plural] something that you own or have with you at a particular time SYN belongings :
He had sold all his possessions and left the country.
I packed my remaining possessions into the trunk.
treasured/prized/precious possession (=one that is very important to you)
This old violin had been her father’s most treasured possession.
Prisoners were allowed no personal possessions.
3 . CRIME [uncountable] law the crime of having illegal drugs or weapons with you or in your home
possession of
He was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine.
4 . SPORT [uncountable] when a person or team has control of the ball in some sports
win/lose/gain etc possession
Pittsburgh got possession and scored.
5 . COUNTRY [countable usually plural] a country controlled or governed by another country:
France’s former colonial possessions
6 . EVIL SPIRITS [uncountable] a situation in which someone’s mind is being controlled by something evil:
Was it a case of demonic possession?
7 . in (full) possession of your faculties/senses able to think in a clear and intelligent way, and not crazy or affected by old age
8 . possession is nine-tenths of the law used to say that if you have something, you are likely to be able to keep it, even if it is not yours
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ phrases
▪ be in somebody's possession
The painting has been in the family's possession since then.
▪ come into somebody's possession
You have a duty not to disclose confidential information that comes into your possession.
▪ be in possession of something (=have it)
Before applying for a job, make sure you are in possession of the required qualifications.
▪ have something in your possession (=have it)
My father had in his possession a letter written by Winston Churchill.
▪ come into possession of something (=start having it)
How did you come into possession of this document?
▪ take possession of something (=start having or using it)
At 21, he was entitled to take possession of the property.
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ somebody's personal possessions
We were told that we could take only a few personal possessions with us.
▪ somebody's worldly possessions literary (=everything they own)
Over his shoulder hung a bag which contained all his worldly possessions.
▪ material possessions (=things you own, rather than personal qualities, relationships etc)
Many of them have lost all their material possessions as a result of the civil war.
▪ a precious possession (=one that is valuable or important to you)
A man was salvaging a few precious possessions from the rubble of a bombed house.
▪ a prized/treasured possession (=one that is very important to you)
One of my most treasured possessions is a small book of prayers.