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to own
01
to have something as for ourselves
Transitive: to own sth
Grammatical Information
Composition
Simple
State verb
Regular
Present tense
own
3rd person singular
owns
Present participle
owning
Past simple
owned
Past participle
owned
Examples
She currently owns a small business in the downtown area.
02
to dominate or defeat an opponent, especially in gaming
Dialect
American
AmericanTransitive: to own a competition or opponent
Slang
What does "to own" mean in online gaming slang?
It is used to describe dominating or defeating an opponent thoroughly, often in a way that makes the loser look unskilled or foolish. Players typically say they "owned" someone after a quick kill, a shutout victory, or a humiliating outplay. The term originated in early online multiplayer games and internet chat rooms during the 1990s, likely as a typo of "pwn" or an intentional shortening of "ownage," and became a staple boast in competitive gaming.
Examples
I totally owned him in that match.
