Own Definition & Meaning

American

British

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Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

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Synonyms own American [ohn] / oʊn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to oneself or itself (usually used after a possessive to emphasize the idea of ownership, interest, or relation conveyed by the possessive).

   He spent only his own money.

2. (used as an intensifier to indicate oneself as the sole agent of some activity or action, preceded by a possessive).

   He insists on being his own doctor.

verb (used with object)

1. to have or hold as one's own; possess.

   They own several homes.

   Antonyms: need, lack

2. to acknowledge or admit.

   to own a fault.

3. to acknowledge as one's own; recognize as having full claim, authority, power, dominion, etc..

   He owned his child before the entire assembly. They owned the king as their lord.

4. to totally defeat, gain control over, or dominate in a competition.

   I totally owned the last two levels of the game.

   He owned the season from beginning to end and took the world title.

5. to take over a (a computer system, program, or computer) without authorization.

   The network has been owned by a hacker.

verb (used without object)

1. to confess (often followed by to, up, orup to ).

   The one who did it had better own up. I own to being uncertain about that.

idioms

1. get one's own back, to get revenge and thereby a sense of personal satisfaction, as for a slight or a previous setback; get even with somebody or something.

   He saw the award as a way of getting his own back for all the snubs by his colleagues.

2. of one's own, belonging to oneself.

   She had never had a room of her own.

3. come into one's own,

   1. to take possession of that which is due or owed one.

   2. to receive the recognition that one's abilities merit.

      She finally came into her own as a sculptor of the first magnitude.

4. on one's own,

   1. by dint of one's own efforts, resources, or sense of responsibility; independently.

      Because she spoke the language, she got around the country very well on her own.

   2. living or functioning without dependence on others; independent.

      My son's been on his own for several years.

5. hold one's own,

   1. to maintain one's position or condition.

      The stock market seems to be holding its own these days.

   2. to be equal to the opposition.

      He can hold his own in any fight.

own British / əʊn /

determiner

1. 1. (intensifier)

      John's own idea

      your own mother

   2. ( as pronoun )

      I'll use my own

2. on behalf of oneself or in relation to oneself

   he is his own worst enemy

3. 1. to become fulfilled

      she really came into her own when she got divorced

   2. to receive what is due to one

4. informal to have revenge

5. to maintain one's situation or position, esp in spite of opposition or difficulty

6. 1. without help

   2. by oneself; alone

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. (tr) to have as one's possession

2. to confess or admit; acknowledge

3. rare (tr; takes a clause as object) to concede

   I own that you are right

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 own More Idioms

More idioms and phrases containing own

• afraid of one's own shadow
• after one's own heart
• beat someone at his or her own game
• blow one's own horn
• call one's own
• close to home
• come into (one's own)
• dig one's own grave
• do one's (own) thing
• dose of one's own medicine
• get (one's own) back
• get one's (own) way
• go one's (own) way
• hold one's own
• in one's (own) interest
• in one's own backyard
• in one's own right
• in one's own world
• keep one's own counsel
• know one's own mind
• leave to someone's own devices
• mind of one's own
• mind one's own business
• of one's own accord
• on one's (own) feet
• on one's own
• on one's own account
• on one's own time
• paddle one's own canoe
• pay back in one's own coin
• pay one's (own) way
• pick on (someone your own size)
• pull one's (own) weight
• sign one's own death warrant
• stew in one's own juice
• take into one's (own) hands
• under one's own steam
• write one's own ticket

Related Words

See have.

Other Word Forms

• nonowning adjective
• unowned adjective

Etymology

Origin of own

First recorded before 900; (adjective) Middle English owen, Old English āgen (cognate with German eigen, Old Norse eigenn ), originally the past participle of āgan “to possess” ( owe ); (verb) Middle English ownen, Old English āgnian, āhnian, derivative of āgen

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Jones has also taken inspiration from former room-mate, unified world boxing champion Lauren Price, who played football for Wales in addition to being a kickboxer and taekwondo player, prior to her own switch to boxing.

From BBC

Sri Lanka has denied claims that it was under pressure from Washington to stop the Iranians from returning home, saying Colombo would be guided solely by international law and its own domestic legislation.

From Barron's

Those trains are high-speed like the TGVs, only they charge for extras: €3 for Wi-Fi, €5 to choose your own seat.

From Barron's

Upon examination, his utility usage didn’t show he was “definitively residing” at the Hull property during the time he owned it.

From The Wall Street Journal

For a few months, Zhang stood alone as China’s most powerful military officer until his own downfall in January.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• boast
• control
• dominate
• enjoy
• have
• hold
• keep
• occupy
• retain

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.