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

“I owe so much to you for seeing me and making me know I could go all the way,” Allen wrote on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

“That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it. At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States.”

From Los Angeles Times

Jackson is the highest rated passer in the league, in fact, and if he does win the MVP award for a third time he will owe Henry a lot.

From BBC

Heather Schwedel, staff writer Who you are voting for this year: Kamala Harris Why: Harris is a better candidate and person in every conceivable way, but even if she weren’t, we’d still owe it to ourselves and humanity to do everything we can to keep Trump out of the White House.

From Slate

But, Fleischman said, Republicans owe Garvey a “debt of gratitude,” because a GOP presence at the top of the ticket will bolster Republican candidates in competitive down-ballot races.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• incur