adjective
-
owing gratitude for help, favours, etc; obligated
-
owing money
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indebted
1175–1225; in- 2 + debt + -ed 2; replacing Middle English endetted < Old French endetté, past participle of endetter to involve in debt ( see en- 1)
Explanation
When you’re indebted to someone, you owe that person something. It could be that you owe money, or it could be you’re just grateful for a nice thing the person did. You probably notice a big chunk of the word indebted is made up of the words “in debt.” If you’re indebted to someone you are indeed in debt — for either money or gratitude. You might be indebted to your credit card company, meaning you owe them money. Then you might be indebted to your mom when she gives you a small loan to pay the bill, meaning you owe her gratitude for bailing you out.
Vocabulary lists containing indebted
Bless Me, Ultima
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Island of the Blue Dolphins
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Amal Unbound
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Indebted local governments have done this before to earn revenue through fines, sometimes forcing a warning from the central government.
From BBC • Jun. 29, 2025
The deal comes as part of a debt forgiveness program —called the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative— overseen by both organizations.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 13, 2023
Indebted to the glamour of Roxy Music, rhythm-heavy post-punk and sudsy symphonic pop, the album swoons with romance and heartbreak.
From Salon • Jul. 9, 2022
Guinea secured $2.1 billion in debt relief from the World Bank and the IMF Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative.
From Reuters • Nov. 11, 2012
I would not stand Indebted to a subject; ask some favor—— MARQUIS.
From Don Carlos by Schiller, Friedrich
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
