own up

verb

owned up; owning up; owns up

intransitive verb

: to admit to being responsible for something
denied having broken the window, but later owned up
usually used with to
They owned up to having broken the window.

Examples of own up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The county owned up to the issue and apologized for the error but is still requiring the owners to pay the missing taxes back in full for the school district. Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025 Another reader advised the OP to stand her ground, especially as her friend refused to own up and apologize for damaging her stuff. Erin Clack, People.com, 1 June 2025 Not to dump the problem in their lap, but to own up and offer creative solutions. Maria Ross, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 Hartnett holds his own up and down the aisles, through the cargo area and into the bathroom, making use of the space and tools within his vicinity. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for own up

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of own up was in 1844

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Own up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/own%20up. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on own up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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