owe
Americanverb (used with object)
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to be under obligation to pay or repay.
to owe money to the bank; to owe the bank interest on a mortgage.
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to be in debt to.
He says he doesn't owe anybody.
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to be indebted (to) as the cause or source of.
to owe one's fame to good fortune.
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to have or bear (a feeling or attitude) toward someone or something.
to owe gratitude to one's rescuers.
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Obsolete. to possess; own.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to be under an obligation to pay (someone) to the amount of
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(intr) to be in debt
he still owes for his house
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(often foll by to) to have as a result (of)
he owes his success to chance
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to feel the need or obligation to do, give, etc
to owe somebody thanks
to owe it to oneself to rest
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to hold or maintain in the mind or heart (esp in the phrase owe a grudge )
Etymology
Origin of owe
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
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.
Nearly all transactions in Venezuela took place in dollars owing to the hyperinflation and eventual worthlessness of the local bolivar currency.
From MarketWatch
But for SGH, “we find accretion and leverage outcomes relatively resilient to changes in bid prices owing to solid deal multiple arbitrage,” they say.
“The first proceeds from any oil sales will likely be used to pay off Venezuela’s debt to oil companies — with the largest amount being owed to ConocoPhillips, and Italy’s Eni E and ExxonMobil.”
From MarketWatch
“The first proceeds from any oil sales will likely be used to pay off Venezuela’s debt to oil companies — with the largest amount being owed to ConocoPhillips, and Italy’s Eni E and ExxonMobil.”
From MarketWatch
Ellison guaranteed $40.4 billion of equity financing and Paramount increased the break-up fee it would owe Warner if regulators block its deal.
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.
