possess

/pəˈzes/ (bre, ipa) · /pəˈzes/ (ame, ipa) · /pə-ˈzes also -ˈses/ (ame, mw)

possess — verb

  • possesspresent simple I / you / we / they
  • possesseshe / she / it
  • possessedpast simple
  • possessing-ing form

1. to have something as your own, or to naturally have a quality, skill, or feature

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to have something as your own, or to naturally have a quality, skill, or feature.

例句

The museum possesses several maps from the Qing period.

possess + noun phrase for ownership

Sofia possesses a rare gift for making shy children laugh.

possess + quality or ability

同義詞
  • own

    best for legal or clear ownership

  • have

    broader and much more common in everyday speech

  • hold

    more formal, often used for rights, positions, or property

  • boast

    used when a quality or feature is notably impressive

反義詞
  • lack

    to not have a needed quality or thing

  • be without

    formal phrase meaning not to have something

文法句型

possess + noun phrase

possess + quality/skill

用法筆記

More formal than 'have', especially in writing about property, qualities, or skills. Distinguish from sense 2: here the subject simply has something; it is not being mentally controlled by it.

常見錯誤

❌The family possesses of three cars.
✅The family possesses three cars.
💡possess is directly transitive and does not take 'of' before its object.

2. if an emotion, wish, or idea takes over someone's mind, it controls how that per

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

if an emotion, wish, or idea takes over someone's mind, it controls how that person thinks or acts.

例句

A strange fear possessed Nina when the hospital lights went out.

subject is an emotion or idea

By midnight, Marcus was possessed by a need to call home.

passive: be possessed by + feeling

同義詞
  • grip

    common and vivid, especially for fear or panic

  • overwhelm

    focuses on emotional force rather than total control

  • consume

    suggests the feeling fills almost all of a person's thoughts

  • dominate

    more general, not limited to emotions or ideas

文法句型

[emotion/idea] + possess + somebody

be possessed by + emotion/idea

用法筆記

Subject is usually an emotion, fear, wish, or idea, while the object is the affected person. Often appears in passive with 'by', and is much more literary than ordinary verbs like 'worry' or 'upset'.