3own verb
owns; owned; own·ing 1 not used in progressive tenses [+ obj] : to have (something) as property : to legally possess (something)
▪ We hope to someday own our own home. ▪ She drives a red truck that was originally owned by her grandfather. ▪ He owns the rights to the band's music. ▪ a publicly/privately owned company ▪ The couple owns and operates the business. ▪ (disapproving) He walks/struts around here like he owns the place. [=like someone who has the right to tell other people what to do] 2 old-fashioned : to admit that something is true [+ obj] ▪ After everyone else denied any responsibility, he owned that he was at fault. [no obj] — usually + to ▪ He would not own to the mistake. [=he would not admit the mistake]
▪ We hope to someday own our own home. ▪ She drives a red truck that was originally owned by her grandfather. ▪ He owns the rights to the band's music. ▪ a publicly/privately owned company ▪ The couple owns and operates the business. ▪ (disapproving) He walks/struts around here like he owns the place. [=like someone who has the right to tell other people what to do]
own up [phrasal verb]
: to admit that you have done a usually bad thing : to confess to something
▪ I know he broke the window, but so far, he hasn't owned up. — usually + to ▪ I'm waiting for him to own up to it.
▪ I know he broke the window, but so far, he hasn't owned up. — usually + to ▪ I'm waiting for him to own up to it.
