owe
3 synonyms and 0 antonyms for owe, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To be required to pay money back to someone.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use owe
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English āgan, "to own" or "possess" — the same root that gave us "own" and "ought."
Full origin of owe →Frequently asked questions
What does “owe” mean?
The word “owe” means to be required to pay money back to someone. In plain terms, to be in someone's debt, whether in money, thanks, or an explanation.
How do you pronounce “owe”?
“Owe” is pronounced oh (/oʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “owe” in a sentence?
Here is “owe” used in a sentence: “He still owes me twenty pounds from last week.”
What part of speech is “owe”?
“Owe” is a verb.
Where does the word “owe” come from?
The word “owe” comes from Old English. From Old English āgan, "to own" or "possess" — the same root that gave us "own" and "ought.".
Is “owe” a common word?
“Owe” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “owe” have?
“Owe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to be required to pay money back to someone.
What is the difference between "owe" and "own"?
"Owe" means to be required to pay money or give something back to someone, while "own" means to possess something. They are easily confused in spelling but opposite in sense: you owe a debt but own property.
How do you use "owe" with two objects?
"Owe" often takes two objects, the person and the thing owed, as in "I owe you ten pounds" or "she owes the bank money." You can also say "owe something to someone," as in "I owe an apology to her."
What is the difference between "owe" and "borrow"?
"Borrow" is to take something temporarily with the intention of returning it, while "owe" describes the resulting obligation to pay or give it back. After you borrow money, you owe it.