on one's own — without help from other people; alone
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: without help from other people; alone
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɑn wʌnz oʊn/
Example Sentences
- My little brother tried to build IKEA furniture on his own and now our living room looks like a crime scene.
- After moving to Seoul, she had to figure out the subway system entirely on her own.
- My cat likes to sit on the windowsill on its own, ignoring everyone like a tiny king.
on one's own
ADVERB[/ɑn wʌnz oʊn/]
without help from other people; alone
After years of training, she opened her bakery on her own.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This expression combines the possessive pronoun 'one's' with 'own', which derives from Old English 'agen' meaning 'belonging to oneself'. The phrase originally conveyed the literal image of standing on one's own ground, evolving to signify independence and self-reliance without dependence on others.
Breakdown
on (upon) + one's (possessive pronoun, belonging to oneself) + own (from Old English agen, meaning 'belonging to oneself' or 'one's own').
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My little brother tried to build IKEA furniture on his own and now our living room looks like a crime scene.”
“After moving to Seoul, she had to figure out the subway system entirely on her own.”
“My cat likes to sit on the windowsill on its own, ignoring everyone like a tiny king.”
“The teacher asked us to solve the problem on our own before discussing it in groups.”
“I accidentally locked myself out and had to survive on my own with just a granola bar and pure willpower.”
📚Related Words
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