beholden

[ bih-hohl-duhn ]

adjective

1. obligated; indebted:

   a man beholden to no one.

   Synonyms: liable, grateful, bound

beholden

/ bɪˈhəʊldən /

adjective

1. indebted; obliged; under a moral obligation

Other Words From

• unbe·holden adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beholden¹

1300–50; Middle English, adj. use of beholden, old past participle of behold

Word History and Origins

Origin of beholden¹

Old English behealden , past participle of behealdan to behold

Example Sentences

No one knows much about how Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy plan to accomplish that task, only that they and the president they will serve want big reforms not beholden to precedent.

From Los Angeles Times

Leaving the agreement would mean the US is no longer beholden to meeting set carbon emissions reductions.

From BBC

His previous one, Mike Pence, was beholden enough to the Constitution—and reality—to certify the results of the 2020 election.

From Slate

Hochman has scoffed at suggestions that he would be beholden to his police backers, often repeating a canned line that “nobody hates a bad cop more than a good cop.”

From Los Angeles Times

“He is beholden to police unions,” Gascón said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grateful
• obligated
• obliged