Need another word for owe? Use these synonyms of owe from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
debt
obligation
liability
duty
responsibility
burden
commitment
pledge
promise
bond
guarantee
indenture
account
arrears
deficit
due
payable
outstanding
unsettled
unpaid
indebtedness
thanks
gratitude
credit
score
tab
bill
invoice
notice
reminder
Meaning of owe
The primary meaning of the word "owe" is to be under an obligation to pay or repay something, especially money, to someone.
Definitions
- To have a moral or legal obligation to do something or to pay something, especially money, to someone
- * To be under an obligation to someone because of their help or support
- * To be in debt to someone or something
Etymology of owe
The word "owe" comes from Old English "ōwian", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "aicjan" and the Proto-Indo-European root "ai-", both of which carry the sense of "to possess" or "to have"
Historically, the word has been used to express a range of obligations, including financial, moral, and social debts
Example Uses
- I owe my friend $100 for the concert tickets
- * She owes her success to her hard work and determination
- * The company owes a significant amount of money to its investors