# beholden

/bɪˈhoʊɫdən/ (US) · /bɪhˈəʊldən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beholden
Updated: 2026-05-25

## Definition

to feel that you must do something because of a duty, a debt, or a law. You use this when you feel you have no choice but to follow a rule or help someone.

For teachers: to be under an obligation to do something or to be subject to the authority of another. Often used in the passive voice to describe a state of duty or legal necessity.

## Examples

- The company is beholden to the new environmental laws.
- The small startup is beholden to its investors, who control the majority of the voting shares.
- While the artist claimed total creative freedom, his contract made him beholden to the studio's strict release schedule and marketing demands.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.