3 → see also possessed
4 PHRASE If you ask what possessed someone to do something, you are emphasizing your great surprise that they have done something which you consider foolish or dangerous. [FEELINGS ] □ What on earth had possessed her to agree to marry him?
pos|sessed /pəze st/
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone is described as being possessed by an evil spirit, it is believed that their mind and body are controlled by an evil spirit. □ [+ by ] She even claimed the couple's daughter was possessed by the devil.
2 → see also possess
pos|ses|sion /pəze ʃ ə n/ (possessions )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you are in possession of something, you have it, because you have obtained it or because it belongs to you. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Those documents are now in the possession of the Guardian. □ [+ of ] We should go up and take possession of the land. □ [+ of ] He was also charged with illegal possession of firearms.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your possessions are the things that you own or have with you at a particular time. □ People had lost their homes and all their possessions. □ She had tidied away her possessions.
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A country's possessions are countries or territories that it controls. [FORMAL ] □ All of them were French possessions at one time or another.
pos|ses|sive /pəze s I v/ (possessives )
1 ADJ Someone who is possessive about another person wants all that person's love and attention. □ [+ about/of ] Danny could be very jealous and possessive about me. ● pos|ses|sive|ly ADV □ Leaning over, he kissed her possessively on the mouth. ● pos|ses|sive|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ I've ruined every relationship with my possessiveness.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is possessive about things that they own does not like other people to use them. □ [+ about ] People were very possessive about their coupons.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] In grammar, a possessive determiner or possessive adjective is a word such as 'my' or 'his' which shows who or what something belongs to or is connected with. The possessive form of a name or noun has 's added to it, as in 'Jenny's' or 'cat's'.
4 N‑COUNT A possessive is a possessive determiner or the possessive form of a name or noun.
pos|se s|sive pro |noun (possessive pronouns ) N‑COUNT A possessive pronoun is a pronoun such as 'mine', 'yours', or 'theirs' which is used to refer to the thing of a particular kind that belongs to someone, as in 'Can I borrow your pen? I've lost mine.'
pos|ses|sor /pəze sə r / (possessors ) N‑COUNT The possessor of something is the person who has it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Ms Nova is the proud possessor of a truly incredible voice.
pos|sibil|ity ◆◆◇ /pɒ s I b I l I ti/ (possibilities )
1 N‑COUNT [oft N that] If you say there is a possibility that something is the case or that something will happen, you mean that it might be the case or it might happen. □ We were not in the least worried about the possibility that sweets could rot the teeth. □ Tax on food has become a very real possibility.
2 N‑COUNT A possibility is one of several different things that could be done. □ One possibility would be to compensate us with other property. □ There were several possibilities open to each manufacturer. COLLOCATIONS possibility NOUN
1
adjective + possibility : distinct, real, realistic, strong
verb + possibility : consider, investigate, raise; face; dismiss, exclude, ignore
2
adjective + possibility : infinite, limitless
possibility + be + adjective : endless
verb + possibility : discuss, explore
pos|sible ◆◆◆ /pɒ s I b ə l/ (possibles )
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If it is possible to do something, it can be done. □ If it is possible to find out where your brother is, we shall. □ Everything is possible if we want it enough. □ This morning he had tried every way possible to contact her. □ It's been a beautiful evening and you have made it all possible.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A possible event is one that might happen. □ The families are meeting lawyers to discuss possible action against the police. □ Her family is discussing a possible move to America. □ One possible solution, if all else fails, is to take legal action.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that it is possible that something is true or correct, you mean that although you do not know whether it is true or correct, you accept that it might be. [VAGUENESS ] □ It is possible that there's an explanation for all this.
4 ADJ If you do something as soon as possible , you do it as soon as you can. If you get as much as possible of something, you get as much of it as you can. □ Please make your decision as soon as possible. □ I want to learn as much as possible about the industry so that I'm better prepared. □ Michael sat down as far away from her as possible.
5 ADJ You use possible with superlative adjectives to emphasize that something has more or less of a quality than anything else of its kind. [EMPHASIS ] □ They have joined the job market at the worst possible time. □ He is doing the best job possible.