OWN 1 after possessives We only use own after a possessive word. It cannot directly follow an article. - It's nice if a child can have his or her own room. (N OT . . . an own room.) - Car hire is expensive. It's cheaper to take one's own car. (N OT ... the own car.) - I'm my own boss. - She likes to have things her own way. - It was my mother's very own engagement ring. 2 a/some ...of one's own This structure makes it possible to include a/an, some or another determiner in the phrase. - I'd like to have a car of my own. - It's time you found some friends of your own. - He's got no ideas of his own. 3 own with no following noun We cannot use mine, yours etc with own, but we can drop a noun after my own, your own etc if the meaning is clear. - 'Would you like to use my pen?' 'No, thanks. I can only write with my own.' (N OT..mine own.) 4 own and -self The emphatic and reflexive pronouns myself, yourself, etc do not have possessive forms. My own etc is used instead. - I'll do it myself, and I'll do it in my own way. (N OT ... in myself's way.) - She can wash herself and brush her own hair now. (N OT . .. brush herself's hair.) 5 on one's own Note the two meanings of on one's own. - My mother lives on her own. (by herself/alone/without company) - Don't help him. Let him do it on his own. (without help) from Practical English Usage, Michael Swan, Oxford University Press

The word "own" means to possess something. For example, "I own a car."