own

Belonging to a particular person, or personally connected with them.

• I have my own car.
• She wrote about her own childhood.
• You must make your own decision.

How to use it: possessive + own + noun (He paid with his own money.)

Common phrases: my own home, your own money, her own ideas

If you are on your own, you are alone or do something without help.

• She lives on her own.
• Can you carry that box on your own?
• We were left on our own after dinner.

How to use it: on + possessive + own (I fixed the bicycle on my own.)

Similar words: alone, unassisted

Common phrases: on my own, on your own, on her own

Used by just one person, without having to share it with others.

• Each child has their own room.
• I'd like my own desk instead of sharing yours.
• The guests all had their own bathrooms.

How to use it: possessive + own + noun (Each child has their own desk.)

Similar words: private, separate, individual

Opposites: shared

Common phrases: my own room, their own space, her own bathroom

If you have something that belongs to you, you legally possess it.

• They own a small house.
• My parents owned a shop for twenty years.
• Who owns the land behind the school?

Similar words: possess, have

Common phrases: own a car, own a house, own a business, own property

If you admit that you did something wrong, you accept responsibility for it.

• Nobody would own up.
• He finally owned up to lying.
• Will you own up to your mistake?

How to use it: own up to something (He owned up to his mistake.); own up to doing something (She owned up to breaking the window.)

Similar words: admit, confess, acknowledge

Opposites: deny

Common phrases: own up, own up to something

For a country to have the recognized right to rule a particular area.

• The treaty states which country owns the island.
• Both nations claimed to own the disputed territory.
• Who owns this region under the border agreement?

Similar words: rule, control

Common phrases: own the territory, own the island