Owe Definition and Meaning
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 6, 2024
Owe means to be in debt to someone or required to pay or repay someone for something received. e.g., She owes $200 to her friend for the concert tickets.
Table of Contents
Owe Definitions
To be under obligation to return a favor.
I owe you a big thanks for your help.
To have a financial debt.
He owes a large sum on his credit card.
To have something because of someone or something else.
He owes his success to hard work and perseverance.
To be morally indebted to someone.
We owe our veterans a great deal of respect.
To need to pay or give something to someone as repayment.
I owe my brother $10 for lunch yesterday.
To be in a position where one must fulfill an obligation.
You owe it to yourself to take a break and relax.
To have a debt of gratitude for received help or kindness.
We owe our teacher a lot for her guidance and support.
To be expected to give something back.
She owes an apology for her behavior.
To have a duty to do something because of a law or rule.
Citizens owe it to their country to vote.
To be accountable for something to someone.
The CEO owes the shareholders an explanation.
To be indebted to the amount of
He owes me five dollars.
To have a moral or legal obligation to render or offer
I owe them an apology.
To be in debt to
We owe the plumber for services rendered.
To be indebted or obliged for
Owed their riches to oil.
Owes her good health to diet and exercise.
To bear (a certain feeling) toward a person or persons
You seem to owe your neighbors a grudge.
(Archaic) To have as a possession; own.
To be in debt
She still owes for the car.
(ditransitive) To be under an obligation to give something back to someone or to perform some action for someone.
I owe Kevin five bucks which he lent to me last week.
This time I'll cover for you, but now you owe me a favour.
(intransitive) To have debt; to be in debt.
(transitive) To have as a cause; used with to.
The record owes its success to the outstanding guitar solos.
To possess; to have, as the rightful owner; to own.
Thou dost here usurpThe name thou ow'st not.
To have or possess, as something derived or bestowed; to be obliged to ascribe (something to some source); to be indebted or obliged for; as, he owed his wealth to his father; he owed his victory to his lieutenants.
O deem thy fall not owed to man's decree.
To have or be under an obigation to restore, pay, or render (something) in return or compensation for something received; to be indebted in the sum of; as, the subject owes allegiance; the fortunate owe assistance to the unfortunate.
The one ought five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
A son owes help and honor to his father.
To have an obligation to (some one) on account of something done or received; to be indebted to; as, to owe the grocer for supplies, or a laborer for services.
Be obliged to pay or repay
Be indebted to, in an abstract or intellectual sense;
This new theory owes much to Einstein's Relativity Theory
Be in debt;
She owes me $200
The thesis owes much to his adviser
Owe Snonyms
Debt
To be under obligation to pay or repay someone or something in return for something received.
She is in debt to her friend for the loan.
Be obligated
To be bound by a legal or moral obligation.
You are obligated to follow the rules.
Be indebted
To be obligated to someone for something that one has received.
He is indebted to his mentor for all the guidance.
Be liable
To have legal responsibility for something.
The company is liable for any damages caused by their products.
Incur
To become subject to something unwelcome or unpleasant as a result of one’s own behavior or actions.
He incurred a huge debt through gambling.
Be responsible for
To have a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.
Parents are responsible for their child's wellbeing.
Be bound by
To be constrained by a commitment or undertaking.
The contract bounds us by law.
Be under an obligation
To be required to do something because of a law, rule, or agreement.
We are under an obligation to protect our customers' data.
Be beholden to
To owe thanks or a service to someone in return for help or a favor.
She feels beholden to her colleague for his support during her illness.
Be due
To have a payment that is owed and is expected to be paid.
The rent is due at the first of the month.
Owe Idioms & Phrases
Owe someone an explanation/apology
To need to explain or apologize to someone.
I owe you an explanation for my behavior yesterday.
Owe someone one
To be in someone's debt for a favor they did.
You helped me move; I owe you one.
Owe a debt of gratitude
To be very thankful for someone's help.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the firefighters.
Owe it to oneself
To deserve to do something for one's own benefit.
You owe it to yourself to take a vacation.
Owe nothing to
To not be indebted to anyone for one's success or position.
She owes nothing to luck; her success is all due to hard work.
Owe allegiance to
To have a duty of loyalty to someone or something.
The soldiers owe allegiance to their country.
What do I owe the pleasure?
A polite way of asking why someone is visiting or calling.
What do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?
Owe one's life to
To be alive because of someone's actions.
I owe my life to the doctors who saved me.
Owe a favor
To be indebted to someone for a favor they've done.
After helping me move, I owe him a favor.
Owe someone big time
To be very much in someone's debt.
You covered for me at work; I owe you big time.
Owe to
To attribute something to a cause or source.
He owes his success to years of hard work.
Owe a duty to
To have a responsibility to do something for someone.
Parents owe a duty to their children to provide for them.
Owe it all to
To attribute all of one's success to someone or something.
She owes it all to her supportive family.
Owe a lot to
To be greatly indebted to someone for their help or influence.
I owe a lot to my mentor for his guidance.
Owe a round
To owe a group of people a drink, usually in a social setting.
After winning the bet, he owes us a round.
Don't owe anyone anything
To not be in debt or obligated to anyone.
I've paid all my debts; I don't owe anyone anything.
More than one owes
To be overly indebted or in too much debt.
After buying that expensive car, he owes more than he owns.
Owe a big one
To be greatly indebted to someone.
You saved my project; I owe you a big one.
Owe it to someone to do something
To have an obligation to do something for someone's sake.
You owe it to your family to take care of your health.
The least I owe you
The minimum that one should do to repay someone.
After all your help, the least I owe you is a thank you.
Owe Example Sentences
They owe a large amount in back taxes.
He owes his parents an explanation for his late arrival.
You owe me a favor after all I've done for you.
I still owe money on my student loans.
She owes her life to the quick-thinking of a stranger.
You owe it to your team to give your best effort.
I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who supported me.
He owes a significant amount on his mortgage.
I owe you an apology for misunderstanding you.
She owes a part of her success to her mentors.
He owes his fame to his unique talent.
They owe their neighbors a thank-you for looking after their house.
You owe yourself some time off after all this hard work.
She owes her health to a strict fitness regimen.
They owe their happiness to a simple change in perspective.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in owe?
Owe has one syllable.
What is a stressed syllable in owe?
In the word owe, the only syllable, "owe," is stressed.
How is owe used in a sentence?
Owe is used to indicate a debt or obligation, e.g., I owe you for your help.
How do we divide owe into syllables?
Owe is a single syllable and is not divided.
What is the pronunciation of owe?
Owe is pronounced as /oʊ/.
What is the first form of owe?
The first form of owe is "owe."
What part of speech is owe?
Owe is a verb.
Why is it called owe?
"Owe" comes from the Old English "agan," meaning "to possess," which evolved to signify a debt or obligation.
What is the root word of owe?
The root of "owe" is the Old English "agan," which means "to possess."
What is the singular form of owe?
Owe does not change form between singular and plural; it remains "owe."
What is the plural form of owe?
Owe does not have a distinct plural form; it is used the same way for singular and plural contexts.
What is the opposite of owe?
The opposite of owe could be "own" or "be owed."
What is the verb form of owe?
Owe itself is a verb form.
Is owe an abstract noun?
No, owe is a verb, not a noun.
What is the second form of owe?
The second form of owe is "owed."
Is owe a negative or positive word?
Owe is neutral; it can be used in both positive and negative contexts depending on the situation.
Is the owe term a metaphor?
Owe can be used metaphorically to describe a sense of obligation or moral debt.
What is the third form of owe?
The third form of owe is also "owed."
Is owe a vowel or consonant?
The word "owe" starts with a vowel.
Is owe a countable noun?
Owe is not a noun; it is a verb and therefore does not have a countable form.
Which article is used with owe?
As a verb, owe does not typically require an article directly.
Is owe an adverb?
No, owe is not an adverb.
Is owe a collective noun?
No, owe is a verb, not a noun.
Is the word owe imperative?
Owe can be used in the imperative mood, e.g., "Owe up to your mistakes."
Is the word “owe” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Owe can have both direct and indirect objects, e.g., "I owe (direct object) you (indirect object) money."
Which determiner is used with owe?
Determiners are not typically used with verbs like owe.
Which preposition is used with owe?
Common prepositions used with owe include "to" and "for," e.g., "owe money to someone" or "owe gratitude for something."
Which conjunction is used with owe?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with owe, depending on the sentence structure.
What is another term for owe?
Another term for owe is "be indebted."
Is owe a noun or adjective?
Owe is a verb.
Is the word owe a Gerund?
No, "owing" would be the gerund form of the verb owe.
Which vowel is used before owe?
The vowel used before owe can vary depending on the context; there is no specific rule.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
