How do you use verb to owe?
Emma Jordan
Published Feb 27, 2026
- owe something to somebody I owe a debt of gratitude to all my family.
- You owe it to your staff to be honest with them.
- I owe a duty to my family.
- owe somebody something You owe me a favour!
- Thanks for sticking up for me—I owe you one (= I owe you a favour).
- I think you owe us an explanation.
What is the synonym of owe?
In this page you can discover 25 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for owe, like: be indebted to, be obligated to, become beholden, bind out, be under obligation, be bound to pay, have borrowed, belong, pay, give to and be subject to draft for.
How do you spell owing money?
verb (used with object), owed, ow·ing. 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.
Is owe transitive or intransitive?
owe
| part of speech: | transitive verb |
|---|---|
| part of speech: | intransitive verb |
| definition: | to be in debt. Once I make this final payment, I will no longer owe. |
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What is the word when you owe someone?
The adjective beholden describes owing someone for something the person did to help you — it’s your duty to repay the person.
What is it called when someone owes you money?
When someone owes you money, you are known as a creditor and the person who owes you money is a debtor. If they refuse to pay, you may need to apply to court to get an order saying that they owe you the money. If they still refuse to pay, there are ways to enforce a court order.
What is difference between due to and owing to?
There is a difference between “Due to” and “Owing to” in meaning. “Due to” means “caused by”, however, “Owing to” means “because of” and it always comes at the beginning of the sentence. Besides “owing to” as a result or consequence of something.
What do you call the money someone owes you?
A debtor is someone who owes money. Businesses and large institutions can also be debtors, and even countries are often debtors. If a developing country borrows money from a wealthier one, the borrower is a debtor. The opposite of a debtor is a creditor.
