own
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1own
adjective \ˈōn\Definition of OWN
1
: belonging to oneself or itself —usually used following a possessive case or possessive adjective <cooked my own dinner>
2
—used to express immediate or direct kinship <an own son> <an own sister>
See Origin of OWN
Middle English owen, from Old English āgen; akin to Old High German eigan own, Old Norse eiginn, Old English āgan to possess — more at owe
First Known Use: before 12th century
2own
verbDefinition of OWN
transitive verb
1
a : to have or hold as property : possess b : to have power or mastery over <wanted to own his own life>
2
: to acknowledge to be true, valid, or as claimed : admit <own a debt>
intransitive verb
: to acknowledge something to be true, valid, or as claimed —used with to or up
— own·er \ˈō-nər\ noun
Examples of OWN
- We hope to someday own our own home.
- She drives a red truck that was originally owned by her grandfather.
- He owns the rights to the band's music.
- The couple owns and operates the business.
- After everyone else denied any responsibility, he owned that he was at fault.
First Known Use of OWN
before 12th century
Related to OWN
Other Economics Terms
3own
pronoun, singular or plural in constructionDefinition of OWN
: one or ones belonging to oneself —used after a possessive and without a following noun <gave out books so that each of us had our own> <a room of your own>
— on one's own
1
: for or by oneself : independently of assistance or control <made the decision on his own>
2
: left to rely entirely on one's own resources <if you mess up, you're on your own>
First Known Use of OWN
before 12th century
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