owns

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'owns' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb that means to possess or have legal title to something. Example sentence: He owns a large house in the city.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Saw ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey and the Dragon's Fury and Rattlesnake rollercoasters at Chessington World of Adventures, also in Surrey, have also been shut down by Merlin Entertainments, which owns all three parks.

The Guardian

But residents here care little for such things, or for his denial that he owns the bulk of the company.

The Guardian

The businessman, who in previous years has been critical of the Kremlin and who owns part of Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia's only independent newspapers, says that "now is not the time for criticism" and has come out in support of Russia's acts in Crimea, suggesting they could be viewed as a "pre-emptive humanitarian intervention".

The Guardian

He also owns Ireland's largest network of commercial radio stations through his company Communicorp.

The Guardian

But another Palestinian businessman, who owns some KFC and Pizza Hut franchises in the West Bank, is planning to open a restaurant within the walls and fences that surround the Gaza Strip, and a second application has been made for a KFC franchise in the tiny and crowded coastal territory.

The Guardian

It owns 33% of Lloyds shares through UK Financial Investments and could come under pressure from the public to use that stake to block any bonuses of more than 100%.

The Guardian - Business

In addition to the 18.5% stake it owns in National Express, the family is one of the biggest private bus operators in China and has a number of bus companies in South America.

The Guardian - Business

One recent example of this would be Martin Ferguson, who after spending six years as the Labor government's resources minister took a job as chairman of APPEA, the peak body for the oil and gas industry (as I've mentioned here before, Abbott advisor and Liberal Party polling guru Mark Textor owns a company that is registered as a lobbyist for APPEA).

The Guardian

According to Bloomberg Vodafone said that Liberty - which owns Virgin Media - could be a good fit at the right price.

The Guardian - Business

McNamara, 44, works for a technology consulting company and lives with husband John, 49, who owns a marketing consultancy, and their two children, Helena, six, and Felix, four.

The Guardian - Money

How does it happen that the top 1% owns almost as much wealth as the bottom 99%." "My conclusion is is that that type of economics is not only immoral is not only wrong it is unsustainable.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "owns" to denote responsibility or control, particularly when discussing property, businesses, or rights.

Common error

Avoid using "owns" in very casual contexts where simpler verbs like "has" or "possesses" might sound more natural. Overuse can make your writing sound overly formal or stiff.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "owns" is as a transitive verb, indicating that a subject has possession or legal title to something. Ludwig AI shows it's used to denote control, property rights, and affiliations, as demonstrated in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "owns" is a common and grammatically correct term indicating possession or legal title, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans across various contexts, most prominently in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. While versatile, it's best used in neutral to formal contexts to clearly establish ownership or control, according to examples found by Ludwig. Alternatives like "possesses" or "has" may be more suitable in informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possesses

This word is a more formal synonym for "owns", emphasizing legal or official possession.

holds

This term suggests a temporary or conditional form of ownership or control.

has

A general term indicating possession, less formal than "owns" and applicable to a wider range of contexts.

controls

This word implies a degree of power or influence associated with ownership or authority.

manages

This suggests responsibility for the operation or administration of something, often implying ownership.

maintains

Implies upkeep and responsibility associated with ownership.

retains

Suggests continued ownership or possession after a period of time.

is in possession of

A more formal and descriptive way to indicate ownership.

is the proprietor of

A highly formal term indicating ownership, often used in legal or business contexts.

is the holder of

Implies a documented or official form of ownership or entitlement.

FAQs

How can I use "owns" in a sentence?

You can use "owns" to indicate possession or control, as in "She "owns" a successful business" or "The company "owns" several patents".

What are some alternatives to "owns"?

Alternatives to "owns" include "possesses", "holds", or "has", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "owns" and "possesses"?

"Owns" often implies legal ownership, while "possesses" can refer to physical possession or control without necessarily implying legal title. They are often interchangeable but "owns" is more specific about legal rights.

When is it most appropriate to use "owns"?

It's most appropriate to use "owns" in formal or legal contexts, especially when clarifying who has the legal right to something. In less formal writing, words like "has" might suffice.