Owe vs. Own — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 17, 2024
Owe refers to having a debt or obligation to another, typically involving money or service; own means to possess something legally or have it as property.
Difference Between Owe and Own
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Owe implies a responsibility to return something borrowed or fulfill an obligation, often financial. Own, on the other hand, denotes legal or personal possession of an item or property.
When you owe, you are under a commitment to another party until the debt is cleared, whereas owning something means you have full control and rights over it.
Owe often involves a temporal aspect, as it continues until an obligation is met. In contrast, own reflects a state of being that persists as long as the person retains the item.
Owing can create a dynamic of dependency or accountability towards another individual or entity. Conversely, owning something provides a sense of autonomy and security.
Debts or obligations signified by owe can impact one's financial and emotional state, while owning assets typically contributes positively to one's financial security and personal worth.
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The concepts of owe and own are crucial in financial and legal contexts, influencing various aspects of personal and business dealings.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Having a debt or obligation
Possessing something legally
Control
Limited until debt is repaid
Full control over property
Duration
Temporary, until settled
Permanent, as long as held
Dependency
Creates dependency
Provides autonomy
Emotional Impact
Often stressful
Generally positive
Compare with Definitions
Owe
To be in debt to another party.
I owe $200 to my friend for the concert tickets.
Own
To admit responsibility or an attribute.
He owns every mistake and tries to learn from them.
Owe
To be required to do something in the future.
I owe it to myself to take this chance.
Own
To possess something as personal property.
She owns a beautiful vintage car.
Owe
To have an obligation to return or perform.
I owe them an apology for my mistake.
Own
To legally hold title to property or land.
They own several acres of farmland.
Owe
To have something due.
You owe a response to that email.
Own
To have exclusive rights to an idea or creation.
She owns the patent to that invention.
Owe
To be morally indebted.
We owe our veterans respect and gratitude.
Own
To acknowledge something as part of one's nature.
He really owns his unique style.
Owe
Owe is a surname or given name, a spelling variation of Ove.
Own
Of or belonging to oneself or itself
She makes her own clothes.
Owe
To be indebted to the amount of
He owes me five dollars.
Own
That which belongs to one
I wanted a room of my own.
Owe
To have a moral or legal obligation to render or offer
I owe them an apology.
Own
To have or possess as property
Owns a chain of restaurants.
Owe
To be in debt to
We owe the plumber for services rendered.
Own
To have control over
For a time, enemy planes owned the skies.
Owe
To be indebted or obliged for
Owed their riches to oil.
Owes her good health to diet and exercise.
Own
To admit as being in accordance with fact, truth, or a claim; acknowledge
"I own that I have been sly, thievish, mean, a prevaricator, greedy, derelict, / and I own that I remain so yet" (Walt Whitman).
Owe
To bear (a certain feeling) toward a person or persons
You seem to owe your neighbors a grudge.
Own
To make a full confession or acknowledgment
When confronted with the evidence the thief owned up to the crime.
Owe
(Archaic) To have as a possession; own.
Own
Belonging to; possessed; acquired; proper to; property of; titled to; held in one's name; under/using the name of. Often marks a possessive determiner as reflexive, referring back to the subject of the clause or sentence.
Owe
To be in debt
She still owes for the car.
Own
Not shared.
When we move into the new house, the kids will each have their own bedroom.
Owe
(ditransitive) To be under an obligation to give something back to someone or to perform some action for someone.
I owe Kevin five bucks which he lent to me last week.
This time I'll cover for you, but now you owe me a favour.
Own
(obsolete) Peculiar, domestic.
Owe
(intransitive) To have debt; to be in debt.
Own
(obsolete) Not foreign.
Owe
(transitive) To have as a cause; used with to.
The record owes its success to the outstanding guitar solos.
Own
(transitive) To have rightful possession of (property, goods or capital); to have legal title to; to acquire a property or asset.
I own this car.
Owe
To possess; to have, as the rightful owner; to own.
Thou dost here usurpThe name thou ow'st not.
Own
(transitive) To have recognized political sovereignty over a place, territory, as distinct from the ordinary connotation of property ownership.
The United States owns Point Roberts by the terms of the Treaty of Oregon.
Owe
To have or possess, as something derived or bestowed; to be obliged to ascribe (something to some source); to be indebted or obliged for; as, he owed his wealth to his father; he owed his victory to his lieutenants.
O deem thy fall not owed to man's decree.
Own
(transitive) To defeat or embarrass; to overwhelm.
I will own my enemies.
If he wins, he will own you.
Owe
To have or be under an obigation to restore, pay, or render (something) in return or compensation for something received; to be indebted in the sum of; as, the subject owes allegiance; the fortunate owe assistance to the unfortunate.
The one ought five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
A son owes help and honor to his father.
Own
(transitive) To virtually or figuratively enslave.
Owe
To have an obligation to (some one) on account of something done or received; to be indebted to; as, to owe the grocer for supplies, or a laborer for services.
Own
To defeat, dominate, or be above, also spelled pwn.
Owe
Be obliged to pay or repay
Own
To illicitly obtain superuser or root access to a computer system, thereby having access to all of the user files on that system; pwn.
Owe
Be indebted to, in an abstract or intellectual sense;
This new theory owes much to Einstein's Relativity Theory
Own
To be very good.
Owe
Be in debt;
She owes me $200
The thesis owes much to his adviser
Own
(intransitive) To admit, concede, grant, allow, acknowledge, confess; not to deny.
Own
(transitive) To admit; concede; acknowledge.
Own
(transitive) To proudly acknowledge; to not be ashamed or embarrassed of.
Own
(transitive) To take responsibility for.
Own
(transitive) To recognise; acknowledge.
To own one as a son
Own
(transitive) To claim as one's own.
Own
To confess.
Own
To grant; to acknowledge; to admit to be true; to confess; to recognize in a particular character; as, we own that we have forfeited your love.
The wakeful bloodhound rose, and shook his hide;But his sagacious eye an inmate owns.
Own
To hold as property; to have a legal or rightful title to; to be the proprietor or possessor of; to possess; as, to own a house.
Own
Belonging to; belonging exclusively or especially to; peculiar; - most frequently following a possessive pronoun, as my, our, thy, your, his, her, its, their, in order to emphasize or intensify the idea of property, peculiar interest, or exclusive ownership; as, my own father; my own composition; my own idea; at my own price.
Own
Have ownership or possession of;
He owns three houses in Florida
How many cars does she have?
Own
Belonging to or on behalf of a specified person (especially yourself); preceded by a possessive;
For your own use
Do your own thing
She makes her own clothes
`ain' is Scottish
Common Curiosities
What are the benefits of owning something?
Owning property or assets usually provides financial security, increases personal wealth, and gives legal rights over the property.
How does owing affect one's financial status?
Owing money or other obligations can negatively impact one's financial status until the debt is resolved.
What legal documents are involved in owning property?
Legal documents like deeds or titles are involved in owning property, which confer legal ownership.
Is it better to own than owe?
Generally, it is better to own as it provides more security and less financial pressure than owing.
Can you owe and own the same thing at one time?
It is possible to own an item and still owe on it, such as owning a home but having a mortgage on it.
Can ownership ever involve owing?
Yes, ownership can involve owing if the property is purchased with borrowed money or under a lease-to-own agreement.
What responsibilities come with owning something?
Owning something comes with responsibilities like maintenance, paying property taxes, and adhering to legal regulations.
What is the emotional impact of owing?
Owing can lead to stress and anxiety, especially if the debt accumulated is substantial.
How can owing impact relationships?
Owing can strain relationships, especially if debts are unpaid or obligations unmet, leading to trust issues.
What does it mean to owe someone?
To owe someone means to have a financial, social, or moral obligation to them, typically requiring repayment or action.
How can someone transition from owing to owning?
Paying off debts related to an item can transition the state from owing to fully owning, such as completing car payments.
How do societies view owe vs. own?
Societies generally view owing as a temporary state needing resolution, while owning is seen as a stable and desirable status.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
