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.
Leicestershire were indebted to the efforts of New Zealand international Nick Kelly, who reached a glorious century of his own off 103 deliveries and appeared to be taking his side to victory.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
The news was grim: By the time the indebted workers reached their 40s, their median account balances were about 45% less than those who didn’t borrow for higher education.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
Heavily indebted countries—including the U.S.—have been hit hardest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
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
“Because you have nothing to barter. You are indebted, penniless. You own absolutely nothing.”
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
