ENGLISH
REFERENCE

owes

v.
US //ˈoʊz// UK //ˈəʊz// owes
  1. 1 financial debt (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to need to pay money back to a person, bank, or company.

    to be under an obligation to pay or repay money to someone in return for something received.

    Example

    He still owes his brother fifty dollars for the concert tickets.

    Example

    The company owes its creditors several million dollars, a debt that has accumulated over three years of poor fiscal management.

    Usage

    Follows the pattern 'owe someone something'.
    Pitfall
    He owes to me ten dollars.
    He owes me ten dollars.

    The verb 'owe' is followed directly by the person (indirect object) and then the amount (direct object) without the preposition 'to'.

  2. 2 moral obligation (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to feel you should do something for someone because they were kind or helpful to you.

    to feel a moral or social obligation to give something to someone or do something for them.

    Example

    I think she owes you an apology for being so rude yesterday.

    Example

    The politician owes his success to the grassroots volunteers who campaigned tirelessly in the weeks leading up to the election.
    • be beholden
  3. 3 causal origin (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to have something because of someone or something else.

    to be indebted to someone or something as the source or cause of a quality or advantage.

    Example

    The city owes its beauty to the many parks and old buildings.

    Example

    The novel owes much of its popularity to the author's ability to blend historical fact with compelling fictional narratives.

Last updated June 20, 2026