mere possession

collocation in English

meaningsofmereandpossession

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withpossession.
mere
adjective[before noun]
uk
/mɪər/us
/mɪr/
used to emphasize that something is not large ...
See more atmere
possession
noun
uk
/pəˈzeʃ.ən/us
/pəˈzeʃ.ən/
the fact that you have or ...
See more atpossession

(Definition ofmereandpossessionfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofmere possession

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Butmerepossessionwithout a credible threat of releasing the agents will not provide the feelings of power or security.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Merepossessionwithout any threat of release is a purely hypothetical use among humans, given our experience of them.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The word control is used deliberately: from many points of view the control of wealth is more important than itsmerepossession.
From theCambridge English Corpus
In the case he cited there would be much more than themerepossessionof documents.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In future are we to be at liberty to say that themerepossessionof a thing is not sufficient justification for its retention?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
For the first time, themerepossessionof obscene matter is an offence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In principle, however, to emphasise the difference betweenmerepossessionand trafficking is right.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I submit that themerepossessionof that outfit will tend to lessen his powers of resistance.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Themerepossessionof a degree does not distinguish a man from his fellows.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Merepossessionin a public place is no offence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Themerepossessionof a licence is not a guarantee of good behaviour or reliable conduct.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It creates an offence out of themerepossessionof forged instruments and/or implements and materials for making them.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Is it still a fact that themerepossessionof certain literature unaccompanied by any overt act may be an offence?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is not enough that there should bemerepossessionof goods.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Merepossessionwill, in the circumstances defined, be sufficient to result in a criminal conviction.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That is fairer as it is linked with ability to pay far more thanmerepossessionof a house is.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
As a matter of fact, themerepossessionof land is not capable of being defined as a minus value at all.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In another way also—and this is my fourth point—themerepossessionof arms is not enough.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I cannot see any case where themerepossessionof a document, however suspicious, would be conclusive.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In the first place, themerepossessionof these docu- merits would be an offence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
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See other collocations withpossession