OWN Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

own

verb

Definition of own next

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

Relevance

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

Examples 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 Markel Ventures, a private equity-like business, owns controlling stakes in a diverse portfolio of businesses ranging from building supplies to bakery equipment and luxury handbags. —

Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024 The move helps create a mecca of minor league baseball in the Inland Empire, with three California League teams set to play within 25 miles come 2026 — and with all three teams now owned by Diamond Baseball Holdings. —

Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024 The impressive stash of items was in a safe owned by Philippe de Gaulle, son of the famed military general and former French president. —

Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024 Jeffrey Yass: The GOP megadonor—worth $49.6 billion—could be a key figure in the fight over TikTok, as his trading firm owns a stake in parent company ByteDance. —

Joe Walsh, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for own

Recent Examples of Synonyms for own

Verb

At one point, 1 in 5 prisoners had covid-19, according to a tally kept by The Associated Press.

Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 13 Dec. 2024
The company’s 2% reward program had a 6-basis point year-over-year benefit.

Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024