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Indebted vs Owe - What's the difference?

indebted | owe |

As verbs the difference between indebted and owe

is that indebted is (indebt) while owe is to be under an obligation to give something back to someone or to perform some action for someone.

As an adjective indebted

is obligated, especially financially.

indebted

English

Alternative forms

* endebted (obsolete)

Verb

(head)
  • (indebt)

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Obligated, especially financially.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 15 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Liverpool 1 - 1 Man Utd , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=And Ferguson was largely indebted to young keeper David de Gea, who has had his critics this season but made crucial saves to keep United in contention as they came under concerted pressure in the closing stages.}}

    Synonyms

    * beholden * obliged

    owe

    English

    Verb

    (ow)
  • To be under an obligation to give something back to someone or to perform some action for someone.
  • *1854 , Dickens, Hard Times , Chapter 7:
  • *:He inherited a fair fortune from his uncle, but owed it all before he came into it, and spent it twice over immediately afterwards.
  • To have debt, to be in debt.

    • Usage notes

    * The original past tense form was ought, which during Middle English began to be used with indefinite signification and has become a distinct verb. The original past participle has become the adjective own.

    Anagrams

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