possess
gb/pəzˈɛs/ us/pəzˈɛs/
B2
English
~ 2200
van, birtokol, rendelkezik, megszáll
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to possess [something]
She possesses a large collection of rare books.
Nagy gyűjteménye van ritka könyvekből.
Citizens possess certain legal rights.
Az állampolgároknak vannak bizonyos törvényben biztosított jogaik.
The company possesses several valuable patents.
He possesses a natural talent for music.
Learner examples
I possess a small car.
Van egy kis autóm.
She possesses a red dress.
Van egy piros ruhája.
They possess many old photos.
We possess a big house.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'possess' in casual speech where 'have' or 'own' would sound more natural.
Meaning
To have or own something
Collocations
possess property
|possess rights
|possess skills
|possess assets
Synonyms
own (More common in everyday speech when talking about having something as your property.)
|
have (Very general term for holding or owning; less formal than 'possess'.)
Antonyms
lack (Means not having something that might be needed or wanted.)
Themes
law
|business
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To have something and say it belongs to you.
To have ownership, control, or use of something.
VERB
B2
2
van
A1
rendelkezik
B2
Usage pattern:
to possess [a quality/ability]
She possesses great patience with children.
Nagyon türelmes a gyerekekkel.
The team possesses the skills needed to succeed.
A csapat rendelkezik a sikerhez szükséges készségekkel.
He possesses an excellent memory.
They possess the determination to finish the project.
Learner examples
I possess good cooking skills.
Jó főzőtudásom van.
She possesses a kind heart.
Jó szíve van.
He possesses strong arms.
They possess much energy.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'possess' with 'show'; possessing a quality doesn't mean it is always visible.
Meaning
To have a quality or ability
Collocations
possess courage
|possess intelligence
|possess charm
|possess knowledge
Synonyms
have (More common in everyday language; 'possess' is more formal.)
|
display (Focuses more on showing the quality rather than just having it.)
Antonyms
lack (Means not having the quality or ability.)
Themes
personal traits
|skills
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To have a special skill, quality, or feeling.
To have a particular quality, skill, or characteristic.
VERB
B2
3
megszáll
B2
Usage pattern:
to possess [someone]
They believed the girl was possessed by an evil spirit.
Azt hitték, hogy a lányt megszállta egy gonosz szellem.
In the story, a ghost possessed the main character.
A történetben egy szellem megszállta a főszereplőt.
The priest tried to help the man possessed by demons.
Learner examples
The man was possessed by a ghost.
A férfit megszállta egy szellem.
They think she is possessed by an evil spirit.
Azt hiszik, hogy egy gonosz szellem szállta meg.
A demon possessed the boy.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse this with simply controlling someone in a normal way; here it is supernatural.
Meaning
Control someone's mind or body (supernatural)
Collocations
possessed by a demon
|evil spirit possesses
|spirit possession
Synonyms
control (General term for having power over someone; lacks supernatural connotation.)
Antonyms
release (In the supernatural sense, to free someone from possession.)
Themes
religion
|supernatural
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When a spirit or demon controls a person's mind or body.
(Of a spirit, demon, etc.) to take control of a person's mind or body.
Grammar
Dictionary form
possess
IPA
GB/pəzˈɛs/
US/pəzˈɛs/
Syllables & stress
pos - sess (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sess)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: possess
- 3rd Person Singular: possesses
- Present Participle: possessing
- Past: possessed
Word family
Forms
possesses
verb
possessing
verb
possessed
verb
Core family
possession
noun A2
possessive
adjective B2
Related words
Advanced or less common
dispossess
verb
dispossession
noun
Expressions
be possessed of
1/bˈi pəzˈɛst əv/
fixed phrase
formal
To have a quality or thing (formal)
To have a certain quality or thing (formal style).
Examples
- She is possessed of great beauty and charm.
- He was possessed of unusual courage during the crisis.
possessed by an idea
1/pəzˈɛst bˈaɪ ən aɪdˈiə/
fixed phrase
Completely focused on an idea
When someone cannot stop thinking about one idea.
Examples
- He was possessed by an idea to start his own company.
- She became possessed by an idea that she must travel to Africa.
possessed by fear
1/pəzˈɛst bˈaɪ fˈɪɹ/
fixed phrase
Completely controlled by fear
When fear has complete control over someone’s actions or thoughts.
Examples
- He seemed possessed by fear after hearing the bad news.
- She was possessed by fear and couldn’t move.