Laxi Dictionary

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Definition owe in British English

owe verb

[transitive] verb
/əʊ/
1

if you owe someone money, you have to give them a particular amount of money because you have bought something from them or have borrowed money from them. Money that you owe is called a debt

Example

Tell me how much I owe, and I'll give it to you.

Example

Pam still owes me £5.

Example

How much do we owe you for the tickets?

Example

The companies owe as much as £200 billion to foreign lenders.

Synonyms and related words
borrowing powers borrowings call it quits
2

to think you should treat someone in a particular way

Example

She feels she owes her fans another concert.

Example

After the way she's treated him, he doesn't owe her anything.

Example

They owe it to their children to try to save the marriage.

Example

I think you owe it to yourself to have a day off work.

Synonyms and related words
rule convention law
2.1

used about feelings that you should have about someone

Example

I think you owe us at least a little respect.

Synonyms and related words
rule convention law
2.2

used about things that you should say to someone

Example

Don't you think you owe her an apology for the way you've behaved?

Synonyms and related words
rule convention law
2.3

used about things that you should give to someone

Example

I think we owe them a letter.

Synonyms and related words
rule convention law
3

to have something only because someone or something has helped you

Example

The company owes its success to its excellent training programme.

Example

The cathedral clearly owes a great deal to French design.

Synonyms and related words
thank acknowledge appreciate
4

to feel grateful to someone because of the way that they have helped you

Example

We really owe you a great deal for all your hard work this year.

Synonyms and related words
thank acknowledge appreciate
Definition owe in British English