indebted

[in-det-id]

adjective

1. committed or obligated to repay a monetary loan.

   He was indebted to his friend for a large sum.

   Synonyms: bound

2. obligated for favors or kindness received.

   He was indebted to her for nursing him through pneumonia.

   Synonyms: grateful, beholden

indebted

/ ɪnˈdɛtɪd /

adjective

1. owing gratitude for help, favours, etc; obligated

2. owing money

Other Word Forms

• preindebted adjective
• preindebtedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of indebted¹

1175–1225; in- ² + debt + -ed ²; replacing Middle English endetted < Old French endetté, past participle of endetter to involve in debt ( en- ¹ )

Example Sentences

In recent weeks, highly indebted Argentina has had to spend more than a billion US dollars to defend the peso, a strategy most economists believe is unsustainable.

Read more on Barron's

To him we are indebted for such gems as “Launch was awesome!!” and “Listening to Sting on my ipod.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"We are indebted to have players like Chris represent England and I want to thank and congratulate him for everything he has done in an England shirt for the past 14 years."

Read more on BBC

He wouldn’t be here without their efforts — and his faith — he said, and he is indebted to all of them.

Read more on Salon

His legacy with the Dodgers, and its forever indebted fan base, has long been cemented.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appreciative 
• beholden 
• duty-bound 
• grateful 
• obligated 
• obliged 
• thankful