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own

v. · det. · n.
US //ˈoʊn// UK //ˈəʊn// own
  1. 1 to possess (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to have something that belongs to you, especially because you bought it.

    to have legal title to or rightful possession of property, assets, or capital.

    Example

    My parents own a small house near the coast where they spend their summers.

    Example

    The multinational corporation owns several subsidiaries across Europe, though each operates under its own distinct brand identity.
  2. 2 to admit or take responsibility (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to admit that something is true or to take responsibility for your actions.

    to acknowledge, confess, or accept responsibility for a situation or action; often used with 'up to'.

    Example

    It takes a lot of courage to own your mistakes instead of blaming others.

    Example

    The CEO was forced to own the failure of the merger during the annual shareholders' meeting.

    Usage

    Often used as the phrasal verb 'own up to' when confessing to a mistake.
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  1. 3 to defeat or dominate (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal Computing

    to defeat someone completely or show that you are much better than them.

    to utterly defeat, embarrass, or dominate an opponent, particularly in gaming or competitive contexts.

    Example

    Our team totally owned the other side in the final match.

    Example

    After months of practice, the young grandmaster completely owned his opponent in the opening phase of the tournament.
  2. 4 belonging to a specific person (det.)
    A1 Beginner

    used to emphasize that something belongs to a particular person and no one else.

    an intensifying determiner used after a possessive to emphasize individual ownership or personal agency.

    Example

    I would love to have my own room so I don't have to share with my brother.

    Example

    Every artist eventually develops their own unique style after years of imitating the masters they admire.

    Usage

    Always follows a possessive adjective (my, your, his) or a noun with 's.
    Pitfall
    I want an own car.
    I want my own car.

    The word 'own' must follow a possessive like 'my', 'your', or 'his'.

  3. 5 a crushing defeat or insult (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang Informal

    a situation where someone is made to look foolish or is defeated badly.

    a decisive instance of defeating or humiliating an opponent, often through a clever retort or superior skill.

    Example

    That comeback was a total own; he didn't know what to say.

    Example

    The politician's attempt to discredit the journalist resulted in a massive self-own when his previous statements were read aloud.
Etymology 1

From Middle English owen, aȝen, from Old English āgen (“own, proper, peculiar”), originally the past participle of āgan; from Proto-West Germanic aigan (“own”), from Proto-Germanic aiganaz (“own”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eyḱ- (“to have, possess”). Cognates Cognate with Scots ain (“own”), Saterland Frisian oain (“own”), Dutch, German and Norwegian Nynorsk eigen (“own”), Norwegian Bokmål and Swedish egen (“own”), Icelandic eigin (“own”). Originally past participle of the verb at hand in English owe. Also cognate with Sanskrit ईश्वर (īśvará, “able to do, capable of; owner, master”).

Etymology 2

A back-formation from owner, owning and own (adjective). Compare Old English āgnian, Dutch eigenen, German eignen, Swedish ägna.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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