own

[ ohn ]

/ oʊn /

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

Nearby words

Idioms

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.

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.

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.

of one's own, belonging to oneself: She had never had a room of her own.

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.

Origin of own

before 900; (adj.) Middle English owen, Old English āgen (cognate with German eigen, Old Norse eigenn), orig. past participle of āgan to possess (see owe); (v.) Middle English ownen, Old English āgnian, āhnian, derivative of āgen

SYNONYMS FOR own

3. See have.

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ANTONYMS FOR own

3. lack, need.

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Related formsnon·own·ing, adjectiveun·owned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for own

own

/ (əʊn) /

determiner (preceded by a possessive)

(intensifier)John's own idea; your own mother
(as pronoun)I'll use my own

on behalf of oneself or in relation to oneselfhe is his own worst enemy

come into one's own

to become fulfilledshe really came into her own when she got divorced
to receive what is due to one

get one's own back informal to have revenge

hold one's own to maintain one's situation or position, esp in spite of opposition or difficulty

on one's own

without help
by oneself; alone

verb

(tr) to have as one's possession

(when intr, often foll by up, to, or up to) to confess or admit; acknowledge

(tr; takes a clause as object) rare to concedeI own that you are right

Word Origin for own

Old English āgen, originally past participle of āgan to have; related to Old Saxon ēgan, Old Norse eiginn. See owe

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

Word Origin and History for own

own

adj.

Old English agen "one's own," literally "possessed by," from Proto-Germanic *aigana- "possessed, owned" (cf. Old Saxon egan, Old Frisian egin, Old Norse eiginn, Dutch eigen, German eigen "own"), from past participle of PIE *aik- "to be master of, possess," source of Old English agan "to have" (see owe).

own

evolved in early Middle English from Old English geagnian, from root agan "to have, to own" (see owe), and in part from the adjective own (q.v.). It became obsolete after c.1300, but was revived early 17c., in part as a back-formation of owner (mid-14c.), which continued. Related: Owned; owning. To own up "make full confession" is from 1853.

Idioms and Phrases with own

own

In addition to the idioms beginning with own

own medicine
own person, be one's
own up

also see:

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

own