English Reference
verb · adjective

owed

v. · adj.
US /ˈoʊd/ UK /ˈəʊd/ owed

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    The company owed its success to a series of strategic partnerships formed during the early stages of the market expansion.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    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'.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated