owe
to be under obligation to pay or repay: to owe money to the bank; to owe the bank interest on a mortgage.
to be in debt to: He says he doesn't owe anybody.
to be indebted (to) as the cause or source of: to owe one's fame to good fortune.
to have or bear (a feeling or attitude) toward someone or something: to owe gratitude to one's rescuers.
Obsolete. to possess; own.
to be in debt: Neither lend nor owe. Who owes for the antipasto?
Origin of owe
1Words that may be confused with owe
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use owe in a sentence
“So let history record that Iran owes an invaluable debt to al Qaeda,” he added.
In fact, the popularity of “La Bestia” owes itself in large part to the fact that its audience is not aware of its origins.
The Government Is Using Subliminal Songs To Scare Immigrants | Caitlin Dickson | July 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAmerica owes an improbably large thank you to Howard for leading us.
In the meantime, Miltec owes the U.S. Army a working missile by June 5, 2019.
It would be too crazy—suicidal really, especially since, besides owing his job to Reilly, he also owes Reilly $20,000 dollars.
John O’Hara’s Mean, Lean Debut Novel Never Gives In to Despair | Nathaniel Rich | April 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Any person who owes debts, or business corporation, may become a voluntary bankrupt.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesA citizen of the United States who resides in a state owes a double allegiance, and can demand protection from each government.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesHe had a long and useful life, and the railway service owes him much.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowWhen it came out of the water it was a bright yellow, to which colour it owes its name of Dorado.
A Woman's Journey Round the World | Ida PfeifferThis the chapel owes to the residence of the royal family, whose passion and talent for music are hereditary.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria Graham
British Dictionary definitions for owe
/ (əʊ) /
to be under an obligation to pay (someone) to the amount of
(intr) to be in debt: he still owes for his house
(often foll by to) to have as a result (of): he owes his success to chance
to feel the need or obligation to do, give, etc: to owe somebody thanks; to owe it to oneself to rest
to hold or maintain in the mind or heart (esp in the phrase owe a grudge)
Origin of owe
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse