owing

American  

[oh-ing] / ˈoʊ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. owed, unpaid, or due for payment.

   to pay what is owing.

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idioms

1. owing to, because of; as a result of.

   Owing to a mistake in the payroll department, some of us were issued incorrect checks.

owing British  

/ ˈəʊɪŋ /

adjective

1. (postpositive) owed; due

2. (preposition) because of or on account of

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Other Word Forms

• unowing adjective

Etymology

Origin of owing

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at owe, -ing ²

Example Sentences

In the 1980s, "we were told that free trade and globalisation were the most fantastic things, and in Brazil we were rather against them," owing to poor competitiveness, Lula said.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

While there is "sustained demand" for high-end PCBs owing to booming investment into AI servers and data centres worldwide, high prices may not last, Wu cautioned.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

A Welsh actor who portrays a trainee doctor in Emmy-award-winning hospital drama The Pitt says he has a "new found respect" for the medical profession owing to the show's highly realistic scenes.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

If they end up not owing, that money would come back in a refund, said Tom O’Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

At first, owing to the stream’s noise, Linda didn’t notice them.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols