owed; owing transitive verb 1 a (1) : to be under obligation to pay or repay in return for something received : be indebted in the sum of owes me $5 (2) : to be under obligation to render (something, such as duty or service)

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.

to have to pay somebody for something that you have already received or return money that you have borrowed owe somebody something She still owes her father £3 000. (figurative) I'm still owed three days' leave. owe something He owes more money than he can afford to pay.