on one's own
Idioms-
By one's own efforts or resources, as in He built the entire addition on his own . [Mid-1900s]
-
Responsible for oneself, independent of outside help or control, as in Dave moved out last fall; he's on his own now . [Mid-1900s]
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.
That determination to live on one’s own terms, no matter how gnarly or weird other people thought you were, is what fueled Fat Mike and NOFX, and judging from the trailer, that hasn’t changed.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026
Investing does seem to be an area where there are lessons that usually cannot be taught, only painfully learned on one’s own.
From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025
Following a grievous injury or some other catastrophe, they were left brain dead—which is defined as lacking any brain function, including the ability to breathe on one’s own.
From Science Magazine • May 11, 2023
Simplistically speaking, it’s hard to dwell on one’s own stuff while harping on someone else’s.
From Washington Post • Nov. 23, 2022
One struggles and struggles and kneads and bakes and cooks and spins and weaves and tends the cattle; everything on one's own shoulders.
From The Cause of it All by Maude, Aylmer
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.
