come into possession

USAGE SUMMARY

"come into possession" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation in which someone gains ownership of something or takes control of something; for example: "The defendant came into possession of the stolen money through illegal means."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They have come into possession of the neighboring country house and are thus the Mortmains' landlords.

The New York Times

And a little prayer may well be required for a violinist to come into possession of one of these.

The New York Times

And how did he come into possession of 179 gold ingots found at his house, hidden in flowerpots?

The Guardian

Intelligence officials have also recently come into possession of information about how much Al Qaeda knew about Navy operations.

The New York Times

People who never had any autographs are apt to think when they come into possession of such as these that they have an extremely rare and priceless document!

The New Yorker

The hero, having come into possession of his new society, sets forth upon adventures, and these are the province of romance (summer).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Well, I have yet to come into possession of a fortune needing to be squirreled away in a numbered bank account.

The New York Times

He felt like staying closer to home, and he'd come into possession of a pair of horses and a wagon — by a sad circumstance, however.

The New Yorker

Americans there, "supposing this land to belong to the United States," had "pretended to come into possession of the same," he claimed.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

MRS. CECIL GIVES 25TH BIRTHDAY BALL; Vanderbilt Heiress Comes Into Possession of Biltmore House and Vast Trust Fund.

The New York Times

CECIL GIVES 25TH BIRTHDAY BALL; Vanderbilt Heiress Comes Into Possession of Biltmore House and Vast Trust Fund.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come into possession" when you want to emphasize the process or manner by which someone obtained something, rather than simply stating they own it. For example, "He came into possession of the antique through a lucky find at an estate sale."

Common error

Avoid using "come into possession" when simple ownership is meant. "He owns the car" is better than "He came into possession of the car" if the focus isn't on how he got it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come into possession" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of gaining ownership or control of something. This can be seen in Ludwig's examples, where it describes various scenarios of acquisition, from inheriting property to obtaining classified information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

19%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "come into possession" is a versatile expression used to describe the act of gaining ownership or control of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. It is particularly prevalent in news and media, academic writing and encyclopedias. While "come into possession" can be used interchangeably with simpler terms like "own", it is important to remember that it emphasizes the process of acquiring something, rather than simply stating that someone has it. When writing, be mindful of the context and choose the most appropriate phrase to convey your intended meaning. Remember: while related, it's not quite the same as inheriting something (which is narrower) and the formal option "obtain possession of" may suit certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obtain possession of

More formal and emphasizes the act of obtaining.

acquire ownership of

Focuses on the legal aspect of gaining ownership.

secure possession of

Emphasizes the effort or process of ensuring one has possession.

gain control of

Highlights the aspect of taking control rather than just owning.

assume control of

Focuses on the act of taking charge or managing something.

fall into the hands of

Implies a less direct or accidental way of acquiring something.

get hold of

More informal way of saying obtain or acquire.

take hold of

Emphasizes grasping or seizing something.

be granted ownership

Highlights the act of being given ownership by someone.

receive as inheritance

Specifically refers to acquiring something through inheritance.

FAQs

How can I use "come into possession" in a sentence?

You can use "come into possession" to describe how someone obtained something, such as, "She "came into possession" of the painting after her grandmother passed away."

What's a more formal way to say "come into possession"?

A more formal alternative to "come into possession" is "obtain possession of", which is often used in legal or official contexts.

Is "coming into possession" the same as "inheriting"?

While "coming into possession" can include inheriting, it's broader. Inheriting specifically means receiving something after someone's death. "Coming into possession" can refer to any way of acquiring something.

What can I say instead of "come into possession" in a legal context?

In a legal context, you might use phrases like "acquire ownership of" or "gain title to" as alternatives to "come into possession".