Own

/oʊn/

Meaning & Definition

verb
to possess something, to have ownership of it.
I own a house in the suburbs.
to take responsibility for something.
You need to own your mistakes.
adjective
belonging to or done by a particular person or thing.
She has her own car.
having the ownership or possession of something.
It's important to take care of your own belongings.
considered as being separate and unique.
He has his own style of painting.

Etymology

Middle English 'oune', from Old Norse 'eiga', meaning 'to possess'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

own up
To admit or confess to something.
on my own
Independently or alone.
make it your own
To personalize or adapt something to your liking.

Related Words

ownership
The state of owning something.
owner
A person who owns something.
ownage
Dominance or superiority over someone.

Slang Meanings

To dominate or defeat someone in a competition.
He totally owned his opponents in the game.
To take full responsibility for something.
You need to own that mistake you made.