owe

[ oh ]

verb (used with object)

, owed, ow·ing.

1. to be under obligation to pay or repay:

   to owe money to the bank; to owe the bank interest on a mortgage.

2. to be in debt to:

   He says he doesn't owe anybody.

3. to be indebted (to) as the cause or source of:

   to owe one's fame to good fortune.

4. to have or bear (a feeling or attitude) toward someone or something:

   to owe gratitude to one's rescuers.

5. Obsolete. to possess; own.

verb (used without object)

, owed, ow·ing.

1. to be in debt:

   Neither lend nor owe. Who owes for the antipasto?

owe

/ əʊ /

verb

1. to be under an obligation to pay (someone) to the amount of
2. intr to be in debt

   he still owes for his house

3. often foll by to to have as a result (of)

   he owes his success to chance

4. to feel the need or obligation to do, give, etc

   to owe somebody thanks

   to owe it to oneself to rest

5. to hold or maintain in the mind or heart (esp in the phrase owe a grudge )

Word History and Origins

Origin of owe¹

before 900; Middle English owen to possess, be under obligation, have to pay; Old English āgan to possess; cognate with Old High German eigan, Old Norse eiga. See own, ought ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of owe¹

Old English āgan to have (C12: to have to); related to Old Saxon ēgan, Old High German eigan

Example Sentences

That they got one may owe something to the organization's political connections.

From The Daily Beast

How does the world owe you a private car, priced as you deem acceptable, that didn't exist five years ago?

From The Daily Beast

So I tweet things like "you don't owe white people any convos" to support others.

From The Daily Beast

"It's almost like black folks think white folks owe them something," Bundy whines.

From The Daily Beast

We exclude Catholics because they owe allegiance to an institution that is foreign to the Government of the United States.

From The Daily Beast

I will go instantly to my father; tell him we owe our lives to you—and that will be quite sufficient.

From Project Gutenberg

I owe you a large debt of gratitude, which I want to work out—so do not talk of sending me away.

From Project Gutenberg

Servants should honour their masters by showing that respect, and rendering that obedience, which they owe to them.

From Project Gutenberg

It is divided throughout its whole extent by a chain of mountains, which in general owe their formation to volcanic eruptions.

From Project Gutenberg

It's wretched enough to owe money to anybody, but I'd have felt safer if we'd borrowed from Mrs. Calvert or even from a bank.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• incur