own

verb

Definition of ownnext
as in to have
to keep, control, or experience as one's own we own a modest house and an equally modest car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb own contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of own are acknowledge, admit, avow, and confess. While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

must own I know little about computers

When can acknowledge be used instead of own?

Although the words acknowledge and own have much in common, acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

When is it sensible to use admit instead of own?

While in some cases nearly identical to own, admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

Where would avow be a reasonable alternative to own?

The synonyms avow and own are sometimes interchangeable, but avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

avowed that he was a revolutionary

In what contexts can confess take the place of own?

In some situations, the words confess and own are roughly equivalent. However, confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of own At the same time, Musk owns the infrastructure of conservative discourse, via X. That puts both men in a sort of co-dependent situation – Musk owns the medium, while Trump’s ideas are the message. —Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 Less than a day later, a crypto venture owned by the Trump family auctioned off a dinner with the President at one of his golf clubs. —Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025 Companies like Zoox, owned by Amazon, and Nuro have all been running pilot programs in various cities around the country. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 26 May 2025 Low-income housing in Idaho can be exempt from taxation only if it’s owned and managed by a nonprofit. —Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for own
Recent Examples of Synonyms for own
  1. have
  2. possess
  3. retain
  4. enjoy
Verb
  • Summers has two siblings: a sister named Taylor and a brother named Will.
    — Jacqueline Weiss, People.com, 6 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, the court claimed Hugh Lovell had no belongings available to confiscate.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 June 2025
Definition of have
Verb
  • No monarch ever actually possessed a divine touch (or donkey ears), but historical records indicate at least two men with the name Midas oversaw the Phrygian kingdom during the first millennium BCE.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 June 2025
  • The Solar Orbiter observations also revealed that while the equator of the sun, where the most sunspots appear, possesses the strongest magnetic fields, those at the poles of our star have a complex and ever-changing structure.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 11 June 2025
Definition of possess
Verb
  • Cons Vermiculite can retain too much water for plants that thrive in drier conditions.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 June 2025
  • Shy Tuttle to retain his job this summer with so many talented players in front of him.
    — Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2025
Definition of retain
Verb
  • On warm summer evenings your patio may come alive with the powerful croaking of tree frogs that enjoy the moist and protective habitat of potted succulents.
    — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2025
  • Designed with a deep respect for the natural landscape, each homesite averages over a half acre, giving homeowners the space and serenity to enjoy a tranquil lifestyle rarely found in today’s fast-growing Kansas City metropolitan area.
    — Prime Development Land Company, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2025
Definition of enjoy

Phrases Containing own

Browse Nearby Words

owing to
own
owned
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Cite this Entry

“Own.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/own. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of own for Spanish Speakers

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