own
adjective, pronoun /əʊn/
/əʊn/
Idioms - used to emphasize that something belongs to or is connected with somebody
- It was her own idea.
- I saw it with my own eyes (= I didn't hear about it from somebody else).
- Is the car your own?
- Your day off is your own (= you can spend it as you wish).
- He desperately wants to live his own life (= be independent and do whatever he wants).
- Our children are grown up and have children of their own.
- For reasons of his own (= particular reasons that perhaps only he knew about), he refused to join the club.
- The accident happened through no fault of her own.
- He wants to come into the business on his own terms.
- I need a room of my own.
- I have my very own room at last.
- their own personal/unique/private beliefs
- He was determined to go his own way.
- I was almost completely in my own little world.
- Most people want to live in their own homes as they age.
- done or produced by and for yourself
- She makes all her own clothes.
- He has to cook his own meals.
Word OriginOld English āgen (adjective and pronoun) ‘owned, possessed’, past participle of āgan ‘owe’; the verb (Old English āgnian ‘possess’, also ‘make own's own’) was originally from the adjective, later probably reintroduced from owner.
Idioms
come into your/its own
- to have the opportunity to show how good or useful you are or something is
- When the traffic's this bad, a bicycle really comes into its own.
the devil looks after his own
- (saying) bad people often seem to have good luck
get your own back (on somebody)
- (informal) to do something to somebody in return for harm they have done to you; to get revenge
- I'll get my own back on him one day, I swear!
have a mind of your own
- to have your own opinion and make your own decisions without being influenced by other people
- She has a mind of her own and isn't afraid to say what she thinks.
- (humorous) My computer seems to have a mind of its own!
hold your own (against somebody/something) (in something)
- to remain in a strong position when somebody is attacking you, competing with you, etc.
- Business isn't good but we're managing to hold our own.
- She can hold her own against anybody in an argument.
- The patient is holding her own although she is still very sick.
in your own right
- because of your personal qualifications or efforts, not because of your connection with somebody else
- She sings with a rock band, but she's also a jazz musician in her own right.
like, etc. the sound of your own voice
- (disapproving) to like talking a lot or too much, usually without wanting to listen to other people
- She’s much too fond of the sound of her own voice.
(all) on your own
- alone; without anyone else
- I'm all on my own today.
- She lives on her own.
Which Word? alone / on your own / by yourself / lonely / lonealone / on your own / by yourself / lonely / lone- Alone, and on your own/by yourself (which are less formal and are the normal phrases used in spoken English), describe a person or thing that is separate from others. They do not mean that the person is unhappy:
- I like being alone in the house.
- I’m going to London by myself next week.
- I want to finish this on my own (= without anyone’s help).
- Lone/solitary/single mean that there is only one person or thing there; lone and solitary may sometimes suggest that the speaker thinks the person involved is lonely:
- a lone jogger in the park
- long, solitary walks
- Lonely (North American English also lonesome) means that you are alone and sad:
- a lonely child
- Sam was very lonely when he first moved to New York.
- a lonely house
- without help
- He did it on his own.