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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Own Meaning, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：possess something (own)

own 🔊

/oʊn/

adj., v.

To have something as your property, to belong to you completely.

Own meaning possess holding house keys proudly

possess something 🔊

➕

/pəˈzɛs ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

adj., v.

To have legal or personal possession of something, such as an object, property, or quality.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English āgen 'possession', related to owe.

💡 Mnemonic

Own it! Think of holding a key in your own hand.

📖 Example

She saved for years to finally own a small apartment by the sea. 🔊 She saved for years to finally own a small apartment by the sea.

🔗 Collocations

own property – to possess real estate or land

own a car – to have a car as personal property

own a business – to be the proprietor of a commercial enterprise

🔄 Synonyms

possess (v.) – to have or own something as belonging to you

have (v.) – to possess or own something

hold (v.) – to have possession of something, especially legally

🚫 Antonyms

lack (v.) – to be without something that should be possessed

need (v.) – to require something that is not currently owned

forfeit (v.) – to lose or give up the right to own something

🌱 Derivatives

owner (n.) – a person who owns something

ownership (n.) – the state of owning something

ownable (adj.) – capable of being owned

📖 Cultural Story

Own comes from Old English āgen, meaning 'possessed by one'. The concept of personal ownership was key in Germanic law, later adopted in English property law.

Meaning 2：admit something (own)

own 🔊

/oʊn/

adj., v.

To admit or acknowledge that something is true, especially something you did or feel.

Own meaning admit truth in honest conversation

admit something 🔊

➕

/ədˈmɪt ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

adj., v.

To accept or confess that something is true, especially regarding one's own actions or feelings.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

It takes courage to own your mistakes and apologize sincerely. 🔊 It takes courage to own your mistakes and apologize sincerely.

🔗 Collocations

own up – to admit responsibility for something

own your mistakes – to accept that you made errors

own your feelings – to acknowledge and accept your emotions

🔄 Synonyms

admit (v.) – to confess or acknowledge something as true

confess (v.) – to admit to having done something wrong

acknowledge (v.) – to recognize or accept the truth of something

🚫 Antonyms

deny (v.) – to refuse to admit the truth of something

disown (v.) – to refuse to acknowledge ownership or responsibility

reject (v.) – to dismiss something as untrue or unacceptable