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own
[ohn]
adjective
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.
(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)
to have or hold as one's own; possess.
They own several homes.
to acknowledge or admit.
to own a fault.
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.
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.
to take over a (a computer system, program, or computer) without authorization.
The network has been owned by a hacker.
verb (used without object)
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.
own
/ əʊn /
determiner
(intensifier)
John's own idea
your own mother
( as pronoun )
I'll use my own
on behalf of oneself or in relation to oneself
he is his own worst enemy
to become fulfilled
she really came into her own when she got divorced
to receive what is due to one
informal, to have revenge
to maintain one's situation or position, esp in spite of opposition or difficulty
without help
by oneself; alone
verb
(tr) to have as one's possession
to confess or admit; acknowledge
rare, (tr; takes a clause as object) to concede
I own that you are right
Other Word Forms
- nonowning adjective
- unowned adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of own1
Idioms and Phrases
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.
of one's own, belonging to oneself.
She had never had a room of her own.
come into one's own,
to take possession of that which is due or owed one.
to receive the recognition that one's abilities merit.
She finally came into her own as a sculptor of the first magnitude.
on one's own,
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.
living or functioning without dependence on others; independent.
My son's been on his own for several years.
hold one's own,
to maintain one's position or condition.
The stock market seems to be holding its own these days.
to be equal to the opposition.
He can hold his own in any fight.
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
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
A month after the offering, he paid more than $9 million for a Los Angeles home previously owned by musician and producer Pharrell Williams.
His work ethic shows you what his attitude is like and, against Spurs, he was still chasing players back into his own half from a corner even after he had scored his hat-trick.
They also want restrictions to be eased on the operations of some established humanitarian organisations - caused by Israeli registration issues - so that they can bring in their own supplies.
Working under the terms of the Compact, the US is now strengthening its own military footprint in the archipelago.
Cole's family felt like they had no choice but to become investigators and make their own appeal.
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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.
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