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
Words nearby owe
Example sentences from the Web for owe
British Dictionary definitions for owe
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