own
own — verb
- ownpresent simple I / you / we / they
- owns3rd person singular
- owning-ing form
- ownedpast simple
1. If you own something, it belongs to you by law. This means you bought it, inheri
If you own something, it belongs to you by law. This means you bought it, inherited it, or were given it, and you can keep it, sell it, or give it away.
Shirin owns a small café near the station where she serves homemade cakes.
own + concrete noun (business/property)
Theo does not own a car — he rides a bicycle to work every morning.
Nkechi and her husband own their apartment, so they do not pay rent each month.
Who owns this red notebook that I found on the library table?
After fifteen years of saving, the Watanabe family finally owned their own house.
文法句型
own + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used to talk about valuable items such as houses, cars, land, or businesses. To ask about the owner of something, use 'Who owns…?' or 'Whose … is this?'.
常見錯誤
2. To say that something is true, especially when you have been unwilling to say so
To say that something is true, especially when you have been unwilling to say so before. Often used with 'up to' when admitting a mistake or something wrong that you did.
Justin finally owned that he had broken the printer by using the wrong paper.
own + that-clause for admitting
Nobody in the team wanted to own up to making the error in the budget report.
own up to + gerund
It took Mei-Lin three days to own that she had lost the hotel room key card.
The project leader owned that the new system was much harder to use than expected.
- admit
more common and neutral; can be used in any register
- confess
suggests a more serious or moral wrong, and often relates to crimes or secrets
- acknowledge
more formal; often used about facts or truths that are unwelcome
- deny
to say that something is not true
文法句型
own + that-clause
own up to + noun/gerund
用法筆記
When used alone (without 'up to'), this sense is followed by a that-clause. The phrasal verb 'own up to' is more common in everyday speech and can be used without a that-clause: 'She owned up to her mistake.'
3. To defeat an opponent so completely in a game, contest, or argument that they ha
To defeat an opponent so completely in a game, contest, or argument that they have no chance of winning; also used to say that someone performed extremely well, far better than anyone else.
Ramón owned the chess tournament, winning every single match without any real difficulty.
own + competition — informal dominance
The visiting team owned the first half of the game, scoring three goals before the break.
Amihan owned the debate with well-researched facts that left her opponents silent.
Nikos totally owned that video-game match — nobody even came close to his score.
文法句型
own + opponent/match/competition
用法筆記
This is an informal meaning, common in spoken English, sports commentary, and online gaming. It is not appropriate for formal writing. A more neutral synonym is 'dominate'.
4. To accept that something is your duty to handle or your fault, and to deal with
To accept that something is your duty to handle or your fault, and to deal with it actively instead of ignoring it or blaming other people.
The team leader owned the project's failure and promised to improve planning for next time.
own + failure/mistake — accepting blame
Mira taught her children to own their mistakes instead of pointing fingers at each other.
After the data leak, the company owned its responsibility and offered free credit protection for customers.
Chidi owned his mistake in the meeting and worked late to fix the budget error.
- take responsibility for
more formal; can describe a neutral or positive duty, not only mistakes
- accept responsibility for
similar to 'take responsibility'; slightly more formal
- shoulder
metaphorical; suggests carrying a burden
文法句型
own + noun phrase (mistake/decision/actions)
用法筆記
This sense is increasingly common in workplace and personal-development contexts. The object is typically something negative or difficult — a mistake, a problem, a failure. Unlike 'take responsibility for', 'own' implies a more personal and active acceptance, not just a formal or legal duty.
own — adjective
- ownpositive
- ownercomparative
- ownestsuperlative
1. placed after a possessive word like my or her directly before a noun to stress t
placed after a possessive word like my or her directly before a noun to stress that the thing belongs to the subject alone and is not shared, borrowed, or provided by someone else — for instance, 'I brought my own lunch' means I did not take the office food.
Kofi keeps his own tools in a locked chest at the back of the workshop.
possessive + own + noun
Before the camping trip, Noa rolled up her own sleeping bag and packed it away.
Each student at the school has their own desk and a small shelf for books.
Vikram brought his own water bottle to the gym every single morning.
The bakery's own bread is baked fresh each morning with organic flour.
- personal
emphasises that something is for or about one person rather than a group; less focused on exclusive possession
- individual
highlights that each person has a separate one; used in contexts like 'individual lockers' or 'individual portions'
- shared
used by two or more people rather than one person alone
文法句型
possessive determiner + own + noun
用法筆記
This sense must always follow a possessive determiner (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) or a possessive noun (e.g., the company's own, the team's own). It cannot stand alone before a noun — always use the pattern: possessive + own + noun. Example: ✓ my own room — ✗ own room.
常見錯誤
own — adjective / pronoun
1. used after a possessive word such as my or his, either before a noun or standing
used after a possessive word such as my or his, either before a noun or standing alone as a pronoun replacing a previously named noun, to stress that a thing belongs to the person rather than to another person or the speaker — for example, in 'Hao borrowed my phone because his own had run out of battery', the words 'his own' replace 'his phone' and emphasise it was his that died, not mine.
Amihan keeps her own keys in a small red bag next to the door.
possessive her + own + noun (keys)
Each child in the class has their own desk with a name sticker on it.
Hao borrowed my phone because his own had run out of battery.
The hotel has its own swimming pool behind the main building.
Salma wanted a room of her own where she could read quietly.
文法句型
possessive word + own + noun
possessive word + own (as pronoun replacing noun)
用法筆記
Always used after a possessive word (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) or a noun with 's. Can replace a noun already mentioned: 'I brought my own.'
常見錯誤
2. Made, built, or created by the person themselves, showing that no outside help w
Made, built, or created by the person themselves, showing that no outside help was involved in the work.
Mira baked the bread using her own recipe from her grandmother.
possessive her + own + recipe (product of creation)
The artist painted every picture with his own hands and favourite brushes.
Joshua grows his own tomatoes in the garden behind the garage.
Dewi wrote the story in her own words without any editing help.
The team built their own boat from wood and recycled materials.
文法句型
possessive word + own + noun of creation or action
用法筆記
This sense typically pairs with nouns for things you make, create, or grow: recipe, painting, words, food, garden, business. The subject and the doer are always the same person.
常見錯誤
3. Used in the expression 'come into your own' to describe the moment when your tru
Used in the expression 'come into your own' to describe the moment when your true skills or positive qualities finally become clear and valued by others.
After years as an assistant, Arjun came into his own when he became manager.
fixed phrase: come into one's own
The old bakery came into its own when the festival brought crowds to the town.
Constanza was quiet at school, but on the stage she came into her own.
This software comes into its own when you organise thousands of old photos.
Hugo came into his own as a chef after winning the cooking competition.
- struggle
opposite of performing well and showing ability
文法句型
come into possessive + own
用法筆記
This sense is always part of the fixed phrase 'come into one's own'. The subject can be a person or a thing. The phrase implies a change: before this moment, the person or thing was not fully appreciated.
常見錯誤
4. Used in the English saying 'the devil looks after his own', which expresses the
Used in the English saying 'the devil looks after his own', which expresses the idea that dishonest or cruel individuals appear to escape trouble and succeed unfairly, as if a devil were protecting them.
The cheater never got caught — I guess the devil looks after his own.
fixed saying: the devil looks after his own
Esteban lied to everyone but got promoted, as if the devil looks after his own.
The landlord raised the rent again without fixing anything — the devil looks after his own, I suppose.
The corrupt boss retired rich, and everyone whispered the devil looks after his own.
文法句型
the devil looks after his own
用法筆記
This meaning only appears in the fixed English proverb 'the devil looks after his own' or in references to it. Not used productively in other sentence patterns. Considered informal and slightly old-fashioned.
常見錯誤
5. Used in the expression 'get your own back' to mean doing something unpleasant to
Used in the expression 'get your own back' to mean doing something unpleasant to someone as a response because they did something unpleasant to you first.
Bao laughed at my hat, so I got my own back by hiding his scarf.
fixed phrase: get one's own back
The tennis player got her own back by winning the very next match.
Tamás got his own back on the bully by reporting him to the principal.
Femi got his own back on his sister by eating her share of the cake.
When Jiro's classmates hid his lunch, he got his own back by hiding their football.
- get back at
more common in American English; slightly less informal
- get even with
similar meaning, used in both British and American English
- take revenge on
more formal; not part of a fixed phrase with 'own'
文法句型
get possessive + own back on someone
用法筆記
Primarily British English. The American equivalent is 'get back at someone' or 'get even'. The phrase is always 'get + possessive + own back'; the possessive must agree with the subject.
常見錯誤
6. Used in the expression 'be your own person' to describe someone who forms their
Used in the expression 'be your own person' to describe someone who forms their own ideas and makes life choices without letting others decide for them.
Nia has always been her own woman, choosing her career against family advice.
fixed phrase: be one's own woman/man/person
Dylan wants to be his own boss instead of working for a big company.
Beatrix learned to be her own person and stopped copying what friends did.
Gabriela is very much her own person — she does not care what others think.
The teenager wanted to be his own man, so he moved out at eighteen.
- independent
more general; 'own' in this sense is a fixed phrase but independent works across many contexts
- self-reliant
focuses on practical ability to manage without help, while 'own person' focuses on thinking for yourself
- autonomous
more formal; describes freedom to self-govern
- dependent
opposite of being one's own person; relying on others for decisions
- influenced
the opposite state — letting others shape your choices
文法句型
be possessive + own + man / woman / person
用法筆記
Variations include 'be your own man' (for male subjects), 'be your own woman' (for female subjects), and 'be your own person' (gender-neutral). 'Be your own boss' is a related but distinct expression about job independence.
常見錯誤
7. to successfully manage a difficult or competitive situation without being defeat
to successfully manage a difficult or competitive situation without being defeated or losing your position or confidence.
Asher was the youngest lawyer there, but he held his own during the discussion.
fixed phrase: hold one's own
Evelyn held her own against much more experienced runners and finished fifth in the race.
hold one's own against [opponent]
Ishaan can hold his own in debates, though he is still new to the topic.
The small bookstore held its own against the big online sellers by offering friendly service.
Apinya is only twelve but she holds her own when playing chess against adults.
- hold one's ground
more literal — keeping your physical or argumentative position rather than overall confidence
- stand firm
focuses on refusing to change your opinion or position under pressure
- give in
opposite action — stopping resistance and accepting defeat
文法句型
hold + possessive + own + (against / in / during)
用法筆記
Always used with a possessive determiner (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) matching the subject. The phrase cannot omit the determiner.
常見錯誤
8. as a result of a person's own abilities, skills, or hard work, rather than throu
as a result of a person's own abilities, skills, or hard work, rather than through their relationships with influential people.
Felix got the job on his own merit, not through his uncle at the company.
phrase: on one's own merit
Adisa was accepted into the music school on his own merit after months of practice.
Valentina became the team leader on her own merit through hard work and dedication.
Artists receive the award on their own merit, not because of their connections.
Wei earned a promotion on his own merit after building the new sales system from scratch.
- independently
broader — can describe financial or operational freedom, not just judging quality
- by one's own efforts
more general — focuses on the work put in rather than the exclusion of outside help
- through connections
achieving something because of who you know, not what you can do
文法句型
on + possessive + own merit
用法筆記
Often used to contrast personal achievement with unfair advantages such as family connections, wealth, or favouritism.
9. to talk a great deal, especially about yourself, and to enjoy hearing yourself s
to talk a great deal, especially about yourself, and to enjoy hearing yourself speak so much that you do not notice or care whether others want to speak.
The workshop leader loved the sound of his own voice and talked for forty minutes.
idiom: love the sound of one's own voice
Dahlia's roommate loves the sound of his own voice and rarely lets others finish.
Elena's grandfather loves the sound of his own voice; once he starts, nobody can speak.
The politician loves the sound of his own voice and talks twice as long as others.
Abigail's uncle loved the sound of his own voice and never listened to anyone.
- talkative
neutral — simply describes someone who talks a lot, without the critical tone
- long-winded
focuses on the length of speech rather than the speaker's self-absorption
- quiet
describes someone who does not talk much
- a good listener
describes someone who pays attention when others speak
文法句型
love the sound of + possessive + own voice
用法筆記
Informal and critical. Used to describe someone who dominates conversations without noticing that others have lost interest or want to contribute.
10. on your own means without any other person around — being in a place or a situat
on your own means without any other person around — being in a place or a situation where you have no company, such as eating a meal at a table for one or sitting alone in a waiting room.
Jisoo lives on her own in a small flat near the university campus.
phrase: on one's own (alone — no company)
The elderly woman sat on the park bench on her own, watching the children play.
After dinner, Tendai went for a long walk on his own to clear his mind.
Luisa ate dinner on her own at a small table by the kitchen window.
Children under eight should not be left on their own near a swimming pool.
- alone
directly equivalent, not a fixed phrase
- by yourself
more informal version of the same meaning
- solo
used for travel or performance contexts
- together
with other people, not by yourself
- in company
formal — when other people are present
文法句型
on + possessive + own
用法筆記
This sense focuses on physical solitude — being without other people. Do not confuse with sense 11, which uses the same phrase 'on one's own' to mean 'without assistance' (e.g., 'he built it on his own'). Here, the key question is about company; in sense 11, the key question is about help.
常見錯誤
11. on your own means using only your own effort, skill, or resources and not receiv
on your own means using only your own effort, skill, or resources and not receiving any assistance from other people — for instance, a child tying shoelaces for the first time, or someone assembling furniture without the manual.
Adisa built the bookshelf on his own, without asking anyone for help.
phrase: on one's own (without help — self-sufficient action)
Marta learned to play the guitar on her own by watching online videos.
learned on her own — unaided skill acquisition
The little girl wants to tie her shoes on her own.
Nikhil cooked dinner on his own for the first time and it turned out great.
Theo solved the maths puzzle on his own, without looking at the answer key.
- independently
broader — includes not just lack of help but also freedom from control
- unaided
formal — emphasises the complete absence of assistance
- single-handedly
dramatic tone — often used for impressive achievements done alone
文法句型
on + possessive + own
用法筆記
This sense focuses on acting without assistance — the key question is whether help was needed, not whether the person was alone. Do not confuse with sense 10, which uses the same phrase 'on one's own' to mean 'without company' (e.g., 'she ate on her own' refers to eating alone, not whether she cooked it herself).
own — determiner
1. a determiner following a possessive word to single out which specific instance o
a determiner following a possessive word to single out which specific instance of a noun belongs to a specific person or group, rather than simply stating ownership — for example, 'each family has its own parking space' identifies the exact space assigned to each family, answering 'which one?' not just 'whose?'.
Amelia keeps her own set of tools in the garage for small repairs.
possessive adjective (her) + own + noun (set)
Each family in the building has its own parking space marked with a number.
its own + noun for things belonging to a group
Hao built his own bookshelf after watching a few online videos.
The restaurant grows its own vegetables in a garden behind the kitchen.
Paloma brought her own water bottle to avoid buying one at the park.
文法句型
possessive adjective + own + noun
用法筆記
Always placed after a possessive adjective (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) or a possessive noun with 's. 'Own' cannot follow 'the' or 'a' — 'the own car' is incorrect.
常見錯誤
2. used in the pattern 'a [noun] of your own' to mean a thing that belongs to you a
used in the pattern 'a [noun] of your own' to mean a thing that belongs to you and is not shared, borrowed, or provided by someone else — for example, a teenager wanting a room of her own so she does not have to share with siblings.
Salma wanted a room of her own where she could read without interruptions.
pattern: a + noun + of + possessive + own
After years of borrowing tools, Keiko finally bought a drill of her own.
The teenager dreamt of having a car of his own instead of using his mother's.
Every child needs a space of their own to play and store toys.
Miguel started a small business of his own after leaving the factory job.
- shared
used by more than one person — 'a shared kitchen' vs 'a kitchen of my own'
文法句型
a / an + noun + of + possessive adjective + own
用法筆記
This pattern uses an indefinite article (a/an) + noun + of + possessive + own. It is different from the direct 'possessive + own + noun' pattern (sense 1). The phrase emphasises that the item is exclusively yours, not shared or borrowed.
常見錯誤
3. used after a possessive word in the pattern 'my very own' to add emotional empha
used after a possessive word in the pattern 'my very own' to add emotional emphasis, often expressing pride, affection, or a sense of special personal attachment — for example, a child showing off her very own puppy or a gardener proud of his very first tomato plant.
At the age of seven, Lin got her very own bicycle for her birthday.
pattern: possessive + very + own + noun (emotional emphasis)
The toddler pointed at the little chair and said, 'My very own seat!'
After years of renting, the Park family finally bought their very own house.
Marta keeps a small notebook that is her very own, filled with private drawings.
The chef planted his very own herb garden behind the restaurant kitchen.
文法句型
possessive adjective + very + own + noun
用法筆記
The word 'very' before 'own' adds an emotional, often affectionate tone — it is more emphatic than 'own' alone. Common in storytelling, children's language, and contexts involving pride or special personal significance.
常見錯誤
4. used in the phrase 'in your own time' to mean at a speed that feels comfortable
used in the phrase 'in your own time' to mean at a speed that feels comfortable to you, without being rushed by others — for example, taking a test with no time limit, or learning a language lesson by lesson at your preferred pace.
The yoga teacher told the class to move into each pose in their own time.
in their own time — without rushing
Soraya prefers to read the instructions in her own time before starting the game.
Students may complete the online course in their own time over several weeks.
There is no hurry — please finish the form in your own time.
- at your own pace
more widely understood in American English, means the same thing
- without rushing
describes the feeling rather than being a fixed phrase
- under pressure
having to work fast — 'he finished the exam under pressure'
- against the clock
having a strict time limit
文法句型
in + possessive adjective + own + time
用法筆記
British usage. In American English, 'in your own time' more commonly means 'outside of work hours' (sense 5). For the 'at your own pace' meaning, American speakers often say 'at your own pace' rather than 'in your own time'.
5. used in the expression 'in your own time' to refer to hours spent outside paid w
used in the expression 'in your own time' to refer to hours spent outside paid work, a concept employers use to separate work duties from personal life — for example, a nurse studying for a qualification on weekends, or an office worker replying to personal emails after the shift ends.
Nurses at the hospital often study for exams in their own time after shifts end.
study in one's own time — professional development outside work hours
The manager asked staff to complete the safety training in their own time.
Shanti volunteers at the animal shelter in her own time on Saturday mornings.
Using the office printer for personal documents should only be done in your own time.
- outside working hours
more formal and explicit — 'training completed outside working hours'
- on your own time
the American English equivalent of this sense
- during work hours
within paid working time
- on company time
during the time you are paid to work
文法句型
in + possessive adjective + own + time
用法筆記
British English primarily. Distinguish from sense 4 by context: if the focus is on speed, it is sense 4; if the focus is on the work-versus-personal-time boundary, it is this sense. American English typically uses 'on your own time' for this meaning.
own — pronoun
1. a word placed after 'my', 'your', 'his', 'her', 'its', 'our', or 'their' to mean
a word placed after 'my', 'your', 'his', 'her', 'its', 'our', or 'their' to mean the thing or things belonging to that person or group, without saying the noun again
Yasmin's car is in the shop, so she drove Linh's while her own was being fixed.
her own — replaces a previously named noun (car)
Bao left his charger at the office, so Constanza let him use her own for the night.
her own — stands in for the noun (charger) mentioned earlier
The office desk has basic stationery, but Hamza brings his own from home.
Ritu and Talia used the hostel towels because they forgot to pack their own.
Matthew's apartment is rented, but his own is being renovated in the countryside.
文法句型
my / your / his / her / its / our / their + own
用法筆記
This pronoun sense always needs a possessive determiner (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) directly before it — you cannot say 'I have own' or 'She brought own'. The noun that 'own' replaces must have been mentioned in the same sentence or conversation so the meaning is clear.