own up

verb

owned up; owning up; owns up

intransitive verb

: to admit to being responsible for something
denied having broken the window, but later owned up
usually used with to
They owned up to having broken the window.

Examples of own up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Johnston, who has made significant strides after an underwhelming rookie season last year, owned up to his mistakes. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024 Tatum’s involvement is made possible by a change in the latest NBA collective bargaining agreement, ratified in April 2023, which allows players to own up to 4% of WNBA franchises. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2024 The latest: Small investors, or those who have owned up to 10 homes, accounted for nearly 63% of investor purchases early this year — a record in Realtor.com data going back to 2001. Sami Sparber, Axios, 27 Oct. 2024 Other European nations and some British institutions have started to own up to their role in the trade. Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for own up 

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of own up was in 1844

Dictionary Entries Near own up

Cite this Entry

“Own up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/own%20up. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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