owe

[ oh ]

verb (used with object)

, owed, ow·ing.

1. to be under obligation to pay or repay:

   to owe money to the bank; to owe the bank interest on a mortgage.

2. to be in debt to:

   He says he doesn't owe anybody.

3. to be indebted (to) as the cause or source of:

   to owe one's fame to good fortune.

4. to have or bear (a feeling or attitude) toward someone or something:

   to owe gratitude to one's rescuers.

5. Obsolete. to possess; own.

verb (used without object)

, owed, ow·ing.

1. to be in debt:

   Neither lend nor owe. Who owes for the antipasto?

owe

/ əʊ /

verb

1. to be under an obligation to pay (someone) to the amount of
2. intr to be in debt

   he still owes for his house

3. often foll by to to have as a result (of)

   he owes his success to chance

4. to feel the need or obligation to do, give, etc

   to owe somebody thanks

   to owe it to oneself to rest

5. to hold or maintain in the mind or heart (esp in the phrase owe a grudge )

Word History and Origins

Origin of owe¹

before 900; Middle English owen to possess, be under obligation, have to pay; Old English āgan to possess; cognate with Old High German eigan, Old Norse eiga. See own, ought ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of owe¹

Old English āgan to have (C12: to have to); related to Old Saxon ēgan, Old High German eigan

Example Sentences

"The U.S. is becoming the blockchain hub, and Bitcoin owes it to @realDonaldTrump!" he wrote on X. "TRON is committed to making America great again and leading innovation. Let's go!"

From BBC

For all we know, this killing was the result of a personal grudge, or Thompson owed millions of dollars to organized crime.

From Salon

Cats tend to mate and breed when the weather is warmer, a period that, owing to climate change, varies depending on the region.

From Salon

“And he’s surrounded by the world’s richest men,” the director says of the president-elect, “to whom he owes favors. I think we can expect an oligarchy now.”

From Los Angeles Times

He said they had been free to behave in a way that damaged their own health, but they owed him a duty of care and their actions led to his premature death.

From BBC

Related Words

• incur