own

own1 [ əun ] function word ***

Own can be used in the following ways:

as an adjective (after a possessive word and followed by a noun):

We grow our own vegetables.

It's the president's own fault.

as a pronoun (after a possessive word but without a following noun):

Many Russians prefer American vodka to their own.

1. ) used for showing that something belongs to a particular person or thing and not to any other:

Everyone has their own idea of what democracy means.

You are free to do what you like in your own home.

of your own: She has two small children of her own.

A large school like this should really have a bus of its own.

your very own (=not shared by anyone else): The club now has its very own radio station.

2. ) used for showing that something is done or caused by a particular person and not by anyone else:

Alan had always done his own cooking and cleaning.

If she was disappointed, it was her own fault for expecting too much.

a success that was largely due to Stanley's own efforts

(all) on your own

1. ) alone:

It's a lonely life for him, living there all on his own.

You shouldn't be out on your own at this time of night.

2. ) without any help:

Your grandfather did it all on his own.

a small country that cannot survive on its own

─ compare YOURSELF

be your own man/woman

to be able to make independent decisions without being influenced by other people

do your own thing INFORMAL

to do what you want to do, without worrying about what other people think or want

get your own back INFORMAL

to do something bad to someone because they did something bad to you:

He was bitter, determined to get his own back.

=> HOLD1, OWN1

own

own 2 [ əun ] verb transitive ***

1. ) to legally have something, especially because you have bought it:

I've always wanted to own a little cabin in the woods.

Before she died, she had given away nearly everything she owned.

Larry doesn't own a car in fact, he doesn't even know how to drive.

2. ) OLD-FASHIONED to admit that something is true

do something as if you own the place

to behave in an annoying way that shows that you think you can do whatever you want:

The new president's friends have been strutting around town as if they owned the place.

,own `up phrasal verb intransitive

to admit that you have done something bad or embarrassing:

Dan could have made this whole thing go away simply by owning up.

own up to: Two local students later owned up to the prank.