First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1own
adjective \ˈōn\
Definition of OWN
1
: belonging to oneself or itself —usually used following a possessive case or possessive adjective <cooked my own dinner>
2
—used to express immediate or direct kinship <an own son> <an own sister>
See own defined for English-language learners
See own defined for kids
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Origin of OWN
Middle English owen, from Old English āgen; akin to Old High German eigan own, Old Norse eiginn, Old English āgan to possess — more at owe
2own
verb
: to have (something) as property : to legally possess (something)
: to admit that something is true
Full Definition of OWN
transitive verb
1
a : 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>
intransitive verb
: to acknowledge something to be true, valid, or as claimed —used with to or up
— own·er \ˈō-nər\ noun
See own defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of OWN
before 12th century
Synonym Discussion of OWN
acknowledge, admit, own, avow, confess mean to disclose against one's will or inclination. acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed <acknowledged an earlier peccadillo>. admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications <admitted the project was over budget>. own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself <must own I know little about computers>. 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>. confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt <confessed a weakness for sweets>.
Other Economics Terms
3own
pronoun, singular or plural in construction
Definition of OWN
: one or ones belonging to oneself —used after a possessive and without a following noun <gave out books so that each of us had our own> <a 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>
First Known Use of OWN
before 12th century
OWNED Defined for Kids
1own
adjective \ˈōn\
Definition of OWN for Kids
—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.>
2own
verb
ownedown·ing
Definition of OWN for Kids
1
: to have or hold as property <She owns two cars.>
2
: to admit that something is true <He owned to being scared.>
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