WordGarden.ioown
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈəʊn/
US
- /ˈoʊn/
Meanings
Adjective
belonging to or connected with the person or thing mentioned, not someone else
Verb
to have something as property or by legal right
to be responsible for or in control of a task, problem, or result
to admit or accept something, especially responsibility for it
More meaningsFewer meanings
(slang)to defeat, dominate, or embarrass someone decisively
Phrase
without help or company; independently
Beyond the definition
To own something means it belongs to you. It could be anything from a favorite toy to a house, or even a business. You can own physical things, but you can also own your actions or mistakes, which means you admit them and take responsibility for them.
Think of it like this: if you built something with your own two hands, it is truly yours. If something is your own, it belongs to you alone or feels personal to you. Sometimes own is also used in slang, as in "I totally owned that game!", meaning you won very easily or did much better than everyone else.
The word "own" seems simple, but it has several closely related uses. At its core, to own something means it belongs to you. "She owns a small antique shop" is a clear example. This is the most common meaning: legal possession of property, objects, land, a business, or other things that are yours.
However, own goes beyond physical things. You can own rights, such as copyright, which means the law says those rights belong to you. You can also own your behavior, your choices, or your mistakes. In that sense, it means to admit the truth and take responsibility. If someone says, "She owned her mistake," it means she did not hide from it or blame someone else.
In more informal contexts, own can mean to beat someone very easily or do extremely well. If someone says, "I owned that presentation!" they mean they handled it with great confidence and success. This slang use often appears in games, sports, or casual conversation.
Finally, own is often used to emphasize that something is personal or separate from others. "She has her own style" means it is her personal way of dressing or expressing herself. "I need my own room" means a room just for me, not one I share. So whether you are talking about possession, responsibility, strong success, or something personal, own is a word tied to the idea of something being truly yours.
Examples
- 1
Property
They own a small apartment near the station.
- 2
Personal copy
This is my own copy, so you can write notes in it.
- 3
Personal possession
I want a desk of my own when we move.
- Phraseof your own
that belongs only to you
- 4
Independence
She cooked dinner on her own while her parents were out.
- Phraseon your own
alone or without help
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Personal wording
Please answer in your own words.
- Phrasein your own words
using your personal way of saying it
- 6
Work speed
You can work at your own pace.
- Phraseat your own pace
as fast or as slowly as feels right for you
- 7
Hotel amenity
The hotel has its own beach.
- 8
Blame
I know you missed the bus, but that was your own fault.
- Phraseyour own fault
you caused the problem yourself
- 9
Creative style
He tried to copy her style, but later he made it his own.
- Patternmake X your own
change it so it feels personal to you
- 10
Admission
If you broke the window, you should own up to it.
- Patternown up to + wrongdoing
admit that you did something wrong
- 11
Accountability
Good managers own their mistakes instead of blaming the team.
- Patternown + mistake
accept responsibility for it
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- ownverbadjective
Forms
- ownedpast tenseverbadjective
- ownsverbadjective
- owning-ing formverbadjective