own

To “own” something is to possess it. You bought it, or someone gave it to you. It’s yours. You own it.

Use “own” for the possession of a thing or things.

She owns a car. (She has a car.)
I own three guitars. (I have three guitars.)
Ali would like to own a house someday.
He’s interested in home ownership. (ownership = the condition of owning something)
Xavier owns a condominium. (condominium / condo = an apartment that is owned, not rented)
Do you own a computer?
Most people own a cell phone.

Use “own” for the possession of interest in a company.

To emphasize a person’s ownership in something,

She has her own bedroom. (She doesn’t share it with anyone else.)
I have my own car.
Do you have your own car?
George finally has his own bike. (He doesn’t need to borrow another person’s bike or share it with another person.)
This is his own fault.
He made his own decisions.
Rosa can’t help her sister financially at the moment because she has her own financial problems.

A relatively recent use for the word “own” involves admitting errors or responsibility for one’s actions.

Tom refuses to own responsibility for his mistake.
When the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, it owned the situation.
If you break it, you own it.
Helen has finally owned up to the things she did which resulted in the breakup of her relationship. (own up to = admit)
You must own up to your failures.
Own up to it.

The country that dropped this bomb must now own the consequences of its actions.

In everyday speech, the word “own” has a few different meanings:

Regina owned the stage during her performance. (To own a space is to totally control it, especially when there is an audience.)
Darryl got owned in a one-on-one game of basketball. (to get owned = to be defeated)
You have to own who you are. (You have to accept who you are as a person.)
If you make a decision, you own it.

She is not afraid to own the person she has become and the decisions she has made.