own / ōn/ • adj. & pron. used with a possessive to emphasize that someone or something belongs or relates to the person mentioned: [as adj.] they can't handle their own children I was an outcast among my own kind | [as pron.] the Church would look after its own. ∎  done or produced by and for the person specified: [as adj.] I used to design all my own clothes | [as pron.] they claimed the work as their own. ∎  particular to the person or thing mentioned; individual: [as adj.] the style had its own charm | [as pron.] the film had a quality all its own. • v. 1. [tr.] have (something) as one's own; possess: his father owns a restaurant| [as adj. , in comb.] (-owned) state-owned property. 2. [intr.] formal admit or acknowledge that something is the case or that one feels a certain way: she owned to a feeling of profound jealousy | he was reluctant to own that he was indebted. ∎  [tr.] archaic acknowledge paternity, authorship, or possession of: he has published little, trivial things which he will not own.PHRASES: as if (or like) one owns the place inf. in an overbearing or self-important manner: he would have walked in and taken charge as if he owned the place.be one's own man (or woman) act independently and with confidence. ∎ archaic be in full possession of one's faculties.come into its (or one's) own become fully effective, used, or recognized: Mexico will come into its own as a vacation spot.get one's own back inf. take action in retaliation for a wrongdoing or insult.hold one's own retain a position of strength in a challenging situation: I can hold my own in a fight.of one's own belonging to oneself alone: at last I've got a place of my own.on one's own unaccompanied by others; alone or unaided. I have to do things on my own.PHRASAL VERBS: own up admit or confess to having done something wrong or embarrassing: he owns up to few mistakes.