beholden

American  

[bih-hohl-duhn] / bɪˈhoʊl dən /

adjective

1. obligated; indebted.

   a man beholden to no one.

   Synonyms:

   liable, grateful, bound

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beholden British  

/ bɪˈhəʊldən /

adjective

1. indebted; obliged; under a moral obligation

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Other Word Forms

• unbeholden adjective

Etymology

Origin of beholden

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

Explanation

The adjective beholden describes owing someone for something the person did to help you — it's your duty to repay the person. If your army buddy saves your life, you're beholden to help him when he gets injured. Being beholden to someone means more than just feeling like you owe someone for a small favor. When you're beholden, it involves a bigger feeling of responsibility, one that sticks with you — and might even weigh on you — until you're able to repay it. Some people feel so uncomfortable being beholden to others that they try not to accept assistance from anyone out of worry over what they'd have to do in return.

Example Sentences

When an actor is so beholden to one role, it doesn’t just limit their creativity, but their perspective, too.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

"Because I feel like if I've met someone and you have some sort of relationship with them, then you feel beholden in a way," he said, adding it creates a "different level of responsibility".

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

In an interview Monday, she portrayed herself as not beholden to any special interest groups.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

As someone who didn’t cut his teeth through a specific offensive or defensive system, Harbaugh was never beholden to one.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026

She didn’t mean to seem unfriendly or even ungrateful, though it was tiresome to be always beholden to Amelia.

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson

Related Words

• grateful
• obligated
• obliged