\ ˈōn 
\
\Definition of own
(Entry 1 of 3)
1 : belonging to oneself or itself
—usually used following a possessive case or possessive adjectivecooked my own dinnerwas responsible for his own bad luck
2 —used to express immediate or direct kinshipan own sonan own sistermy own family
own
verbowned; owning; owns
Definition of own (Entry 2 of 3)
1a : 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
: to acknowledge something to be true, valid, or as claimed
—used with to or up
Definition of own (Entry 3 of 3)
: one or ones belonging to oneself
—used after a possessive and without a following noungave out books so that each of us had our owna 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
Keep scrolling for more
Examples of own in a Sentence
Verb
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.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Immediately post-breakup, your thoughts are still anchored to your ex, because being with him for nine years has conditioned you to automatically consider his thoughts and feelings before your own.
—
Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, "Ask Amy: Woman needs to make encounters with ex more about business, nothing about emotions," 10 Jan. 2021 Expansion-era Browns fans finally have a playoff team to call their own.
—
Matt Goul, cleveland, "Browns vs. Steelers: Everything to know ahead of the wild card game," 10 Jan. 2021 Clemson held its own early, maybe because Elliott would have scripted the first couple of possessions, as just about every team does.
—
Charles Hollis, al, "Alabama’s challenge is containing one of Buckeyes’ greatest teams," 10 Jan. 2021 These have echoes of Caravaggio, but an aggression that is all their own.
—
Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, "Isn’t She Good—For a Woman?," 10 Jan. 2021 Immediately post-breakup, your thoughts are still anchored to your ex, because being with him for nine years has conditioned you to automatically consider his thoughts and feelings before your own.
—
Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, "Break-up encounters should be negotiations," 10 Jan. 2021 After 35 to 45 minutes of walking or light jogging, Randy also turns to yoga, which has benefits all its own.
—
Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, "Randy Jackson's Weight-Loss and Health Journey in His Own Words," 7 Jan. 2021 His team couldn’t find its own against San Antonio.
—
Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, "Kawhi Leonard can’t cap Clippers comeback with last-second shot in loss to Spurs," 5 Jan. 2021 Only men and women aspire to lifelong loyalty to friends whose bodies do not commingle with their own.
—
Herbert Gold, Harpers Magazine, "The Injustice Collector," 5 Jan. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The existing shareholders will own proportionately less as a result.
—
Carolyn Said, SFChronicle.com, "IPOs are hot in Silicon Valley. SPACs are even hotter," 24 Dec. 2020 Industry groups have joined the suit, including the National Apartment Association, which represents more than 90,000 companies that own more than 10 million units.
—
Author: Jonathan O’connell, Anu Narayanswamy, Anchorage Daily News, "Struggling renters face avalanche of evictions without further federal aid," 24 Dec. 2020 Following the offer, Vodafone will own at least 94% of KDG’s outstanding shares.
—
Thomas Seal, Bloomberg.com, "Vodafone Stems Years-Long Elliott Legal Tiff With KDG Offer," 22 Dec. 2020 Oglesby-Williams has a felony record in Wisconsin and can’t legally own a gun.
—
William Lee, chicagotribune.com, "Murder charges dropped against man accused of shooting girlfriend’s brother," 22 Dec. 2020 When the acquisition is completed in the third quarter of 2021, Alexion shareholders will own about 15% of AstraZeneca.
—
Rebecca Lurye, courant.com, "AstraZeneca to buy Alexion, rare disease drugmaker with research base in New Haven," 12 Dec. 2020 Alabama will own wins against Texas A&M and Georgia.
—
Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, "Where the College Football Playoff stands after Week 13," 30 Nov. 2020 Thanks to this month's elections, Democrats will own all four Senate seats from purple Arizona and increasingly blue Colorado next year.
—
Alan Fram, Star Tribune, "Hardening partisan map steepens Democrats' climb in Senate," 16 Nov. 2020 With the deal, Callaway shareholders will own a 51.5% stake in the company with the rest owned by Topgolf’s investors.
—
Dallas News, "Topgolf is merging with Callaway in a deal valued at $2 billion," 27 Oct. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'own.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about own
Dictionary Entries near own
See More Nearby EntriesStatistics for own
Last Updated
15 Jan 2021
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Own.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/own. Accessed 15 Jan. 2021.
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for own
own
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of own
(Entry 1 of 3)
—used to say that something belongs or relates to a particular person or thing and to no other —always used after a possessive (such as "my," "your," or "their")
—used to stress the fact that a person does or makes something without the help of other people —always used after a possessive
own
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of own (Entry 2 of 3)
: to have (something) as property : to legally possess (something)
old-fashioned : to admit that something is true
own
pronounEnglish Language Learners Definition of own (Entry 3 of 3)
: something or someone that belongs or relates to a particular person or thing and to no other
See the full definition for own in the English Language Learners Dictionary
own
adjective\ ˈōn \
\Kids Definition of own
(Entry 1 of 2)
—used to show the fact that something belongs to or relates to a particular person or thing and no other I have my own room. The hotel has its own theater.
own
verbowned; owning
Kids Definition of own (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to have or hold as property
She owns two cars.
2 : to admit that something is true
He owned to being scared.
own
transitive verbLegal Definition of own
: to have or hold as property especially : to have title to own property
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on own
What made you want to look up own? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Words of Snow and Ice Quiz
- Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Anagram puzzles meet word search.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Words of Snow and Ice Quiz
A selection of words from the chillier parts of t...
Take the quiz - Name that Thing: Toys and Games Edition
It's all fun and games until someone beats your h...
Take the quiz - True or False?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something a...
Take the quiz - SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!
Play the game
Share own
Time Traveler for own
The first known use of own was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century