Synonyms of own

own

verb

as in to have

to keep, control, or experience as one's own

we own a modest house and an equally modest car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• have
• possess
• retain
• enjoy
• hold
• command
• keep
• carry
• reserve
• withhold
• rejoice in
• sport
• bear
• boast
• show off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• want
• lack
• abandon
• relinquish
• renounce
• surrender
• yield
• need
• discard
• dump
• require
• reject
• disown
• hand over
• disclaim
• decline
• cede
• repudiate
• spurn

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb own contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of own are acknowledge, admit, avow, and confess. While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

must own I know little about computers

When can acknowledge be used instead of own?

Although the words acknowledge and own have much in common, acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

When is it sensible to use admit instead of own?

While in some cases nearly identical to own, admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

Where would avow be a reasonable alternative to own?

The synonyms avow and own are sometimes interchangeable, but avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

avowed that he was a revolutionary

In what contexts can confess take the place of own?

In some situations, the words confess and own are roughly equivalent. However, confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of own

An explosion at the Promontory, Utah facility owned by aerospace and defense technology company Northrop Grumman was reported Wednesday, at 9:38 a.m. EDT (1338 GMT, 7:38 a.m., local time in Promontory). —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Fannie Mae initially filed a lawsuit against FTW Investments — owned by former Independence Towers owner Parker Webb — in January 2024, alleging that FTW had defaulted on its initial loan and that its subsidiary had failed to properly manage the building. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025

The utility had owned replacement generators since 1988 but had not installed them. —Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2025

The couple, who have seven boys ranging in age from 6 years old to 27, also own a Victorian-style house on 5 acres in nearby Vineyard, east of Elk Grove. —David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2025

Phrases Containing own

• by one's own bootstraps
• come into one's own
• of one's own accord
• on one's own
• on one's own hook
• on one's own initiative
• own (up to)
• own (up)