beholden

[bih-hohl-duhn]

adjective

1. obligated; indebted.

   a man beholden to no one.

   Synonyms: liable, grateful, bound

beholden

/ bɪˈhəʊldən /

adjective

1. indebted; obliged; under a moral obligation

Other Word Forms

• unbeholden adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beholden¹

1300–50; Middle English, adj. use of beholden, old past participle of behold

Word History and Origins

Origin of beholden¹

Old English behealden , past participle of behealdan to _behold

Example Sentences

“Bread of Angels” is her story, and in choosing to write this book, she was only beholden to her own muses.

Read more on Salon

Some experts have said that Tesla’s board is beholden to Musk and does not act independently.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She’s excellent in the role, small and vulnerable yet tough and fierce, a pink-clad dynamo who is nevertheless beholden to others.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"If companies are determined to increase pricing, it is beholden on us to make sure that customers are able to go elsewhere as easily as possible."

Read more on BBC

I can’t tell you who or what the right-wing justices feel beholden to.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• grateful 
• obligated 
• obliged