own */*/*/

I UK [əʊn] / US [oʊn] adjective, pronoun

Summary:

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 washing and mending.

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

an achievement that was largely due to Stanley's own efforts

•

(all) on your own — alone; without any help

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.

a small country that cannot survive on its own

Your grandfather did it all on his own.

See:

yourself

- do your own thing

- get your own back

See:

hold I, thing

II UK [əʊn] / US [oʊn] verb [transitive]
Word forms "own":
present tense I/you/we/they own he/she/it owns present participle owning past tense owned past participle owned

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

I've always wanted to own a little cottage by the sea.

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

Phrasal verbs:

- own up