own

SayOHN/oʊn/UK/əʊn/

12 meanings of own

1
adjective
Belonging to a particular person and nobody else.
Like writing your name on your lunchbox so everyone knows it is yours.
He made this table with his own hands.
I want my own bike.
UsageSay my own bike or a bike of my own (not ~~incorrect: an own bike~~).
Note
2
verbtransitive
To have something that belongs to you, such as a house, money, or land.
Like having the only key to a house that is really yours.
They own a small farm near the river.
You can own this car once you finish paying.
UsageSay I own a car (not ~~incorrect: I am owning~~ a car).
Similarpossess, hold, have
Note
3
take responsibilityverbtransitive
To take responsibility for something you did, instead of blaming others.
Like raising your hand and saying, 'That was me, and I will fix it.'
A good leader will own their mistakes.
He owned the error and fixed it right away.
Similaracknowledge, admit, accept
Oppositedeny
Note

Less common meanings

4
not be ashamedverbtransitive
To accept something about yourself with pride and without feeling ashamed.
Like standing tall and saying, 'Yes, that is me,' with a smile.
You should own your style and stop worrying about others.
She owns her quirks and laughs about them.
UsageSay own your style, or just own it.
Similarembrace, accept
Oppositehide, conceal, deny
Note
5
verbtransitive
To beat someone easily or make them look foolish.
Like winning a game so easily that the other side never had a chance.
My dad loves to own me when we argue about movies.
She owned the argument and left them speechless.
UsageYou can also say someone got owned.
Similardestroy, crush, humiliate, demolish, trounce
6
verbtransitive
To admit that something is true or that you did something.
Like nodding and saying, 'Yes, that is true.'
I own that I was wrong about the budget.
He owned the truth of her accusation.
UsageUse own up to when admitting a mistake: he owned up to it.
Similaradmit, acknowledge, concede, confess, grant
Oppositedeny, disclaim
Note
7
control fullyverbtransitive
To control someone so completely that they have no freedom, as if they were a slave.
Like being stuck in something you cannot break free from.
Gambling debts can own a person for years.
The addiction owned him completely.
Similardominate, control, consume, rule, possess
8
be greatverbslangintransitive
To be really good or impressive.
This new song totally owns.
Their live shows own.
Similarrock, rule
Oppositesuck, stink
Note
9
crushing insultnouncountable
A harsh, embarrassing insult that completely beats someone in an argument.
Like a joke so sharp the other person has nothing to say back.
His one-line reply was a savage own.
The whole crowd laughed at such a clean own.
Similarburn, zinger, put-down, comeback
Note
10
hack (computer)verbslangtransitive
To break into a computer system and take full control of it.
Like a thief getting a key that opens every door in a building.
Hackers owned the company's servers within minutes.
A single bad link can let attackers own your whole machine.
UsageIn formal writing, say a computer was compromised.
Similarpwn
Note
11
adjectiveobsolete
Belonging naturally to a person or place, or coming from one's own country.
Note
12
verbdated
To say that something or someone belongs to you.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 11

This comes from Old English āgen, meaning "own," which was first the past participle of āgan (the source of "owe").

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

The adjective comes from Old English āgen, meaning 'own'. en.wiktionary.org
Āgen was originally the past participle of āgan. en.wiktionary.org
Old English āgan is the source of English 'owe'. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 2–10

This verb was formed from the word "owner."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

Wiktionary identifies the verb as a back-formation from "owner," rather than from all three words. en.wiktionary.org