on one's own

1. By one's own efforts or resources, as in He built the entire addition on his own . [Mid-1900s]

2. Responsible for oneself, independent of outside help or control, as in Dave moved out last fall; he's on his own now . [Mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

And as in most medical dramas, there are big questions about life and death one might find disturbing depending on one’s own life and circumstances.

From Los Angeles Times

After Mangal-arti, who had no formal medical or psychological training, told her she had borderline personality disorder, she said, she had begun to doubt her own instincts about even the most basic facts of her existence, doubts that reflected Hare Krishna teachings about not relying on one’s own emotions.

From New York Times

As explained by the editor at the student newspaper The Stanford Review, “Drawing the line at any point other than conception is based purely on one’s own arbitrary standards, not objective principles …. Human life does not begin based at a point established by law, a Supreme Court case, or an individual’s opinion. Only one point can be true, and that point is conception.”

From Seattle Times

"It is a decision theory in which the outcome does not depend on one's own decision alone, but also on the decision of the other actors," explained Ikerbasque Research Professor Annick Laruelle, an expert in game theory in the UPV/EHU's Department of Economic Analysis.

From Science Daily

Indeed, Kansara plays Ria with spunk and a youthful vigor that makes it hard not to reminisce on one's own adolescent years.

From Salon

Related Words

• deliberately
• freely
• intentionally
• spontaneously
• willingly