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.
Acme was filmed right as the steeply indebted Warner Bros. was merging with Zaslav’s Discovery Inc.; it then fell prey to the new CEO’s scythe.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
With a total public-sector debt estimated at 132 percent of GDP at the end of 2024, according to the IMF, Senegal is one of the most indebted countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
By the time the bubble burst, the industry was sitting on huge amounts of unused “dark fiber,” which collapsed prices and crushed heavily indebted operators.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
"As ever, we are indebted to members of the public for providing information," he continued.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
"Well," the old man said, stroking his heard, "I am indebted to you for having eaten your food."
From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin
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.
