owe

[ oh ]
/ oʊ /

verb (used with object), owed, ow·ing.

to be under obligation to pay or repay: to owe money to the bank; to owe the bank interest on a mortgage.
to be in debt to: He says he doesn't owe anybody.
to be indebted (to) as the cause or source of: to owe one's fame to good fortune.
to have or bear (a feeling or attitude) toward someone or something: to owe gratitude to one's rescuers.
Obsolete. to possess; own.

verb (used without object), owed, ow·ing.

to be in debt: Neither lend nor owe. Who owes for the antipasto?

Origin of owe

before 900; Middle English owen to possess, be under obligation, have to pay; Old English āgan to possess; cognate with Old High German eigan, Old Norse eiga. See own, ought1

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH owe

O oh owe ode owed

Example sentences from the Web for owed

British Dictionary definitions for owed

owe
/ (əʊ) /

verb (mainly tr)

to be under an obligation to pay (someone) to the amount of
(intr) to be in debt he still owes for his house
(often foll by to) to have as a result (of) he owes his success to chance
to feel the need or obligation to do, give, etc to owe somebody thanks; to owe it to oneself to rest
to hold or maintain in the mind or heart (esp in the phrase owe a grudge)

Word Origin for owe

Old English āgan to have (C12: to have to); related to Old Saxon ēgan, Old High German eigan