own

[ ohn ]
/ oʊn /

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to oneself or itself (usually used after a possessive to emphasize the idea of ownership, interest, or relation conveyed by the possessive): He spent only his own money.
(used as an intensifier to indicate oneself as the sole agent of some activity or action, preceded by a possessive): He insists on being his own doctor.

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to confess (often followed by to, up, or up to): The one who did it had better own up. I own to being uncertain about that.

Idioms for own

Origin of own

before 900; (adj.) Middle English owen, Old English āgen (cognate with German eigen, Old Norse eigenn), orig. past participle of āgan to possess (see owe); (v.) Middle English ownen, Old English āgnian, āhnian, derivative of āgen

OTHER WORDS FROM own

non·own·ing, adjective un·owned, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for on one's own

own
/ (əʊn) /

determiner (preceded by a possessive)

verb

Word Origin for own

Old English āgen, originally past participle of āgan to have; related to Old Saxon ēgan, Old Norse eiginn. See owe

Idioms and Phrases with on one's own (1 of 2)

on one's own

1

By one's own efforts or resources, as in He built the entire addition on his own. [Mid-1900s]

2

Responsible for oneself, independent of outside help or control, as in Dave moved out last fall; he's on his own now. [Mid-1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with on one's own (2 of 2)

own