What does "owed" mean?

1. (past tense of owe) the past form of 'owe', meaning you had to pay money or give something back to someone. 2. (yet to be paid) money or a favor that has not been paid or given yet.

How do you use "owed"?

usually follows the noun it describes or appears after the verb 'to be'.

owed

v. · adj.

US //ˈoʊd// UK //ˈəʊd// owed

1 past tense of owe (v.)
A2 Elementary

the past form of 'owe', meaning you had to pay money or give something back to someone.

the simple past and past participle of 'owe', denoting a past or ongoing financial or moral obligation.

Example

He owed his brother fifty dollars for the concert tickets they bought last week.

Example

The company owed its success to a series of strategic partnerships formed during the early stages of the market expansion.
- indebted
- obligated
2 yet to be paid (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

money or a favor that has not been paid or given yet.

referring to a debt or obligation that remains outstanding or unpaid.

Example

The total amount owed was much higher than I expected because of the interest.

Example

The accountant meticulously calculated the interest on the funds owed to the creditors to ensure the final settlement was accurate.

Usage

usually follows the noun it describes or appears after the verb 'to be'.
- paid
- settled