indebted

/ɪnˈdetɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈdetɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈde-təd/ (ame, mw)

indebted — adjective

  • indebtedpositive
  • more indebtedcomparative
  • most indebtedsuperlative

1. feeling deep thankfulness toward someone who has done something kind or useful f

1.形容詞C1
釋義

feeling deep thankfulness toward someone who has done something kind or useful for you, often something you could not easily repay.

例句

Sivan said she was deeply indebted to her piano teacher for years of patient lessons.

be indebted to + person + for + something

The whole village remained indebted to Dr. Femi for staying through the flood.

be indebted to + person for an extended favour

同義詞
  • grateful

    everyday register; 'indebted' is stronger and more formal

  • beholden

    literary; carries a slight sense of obligation, not just thanks

  • obliged

    formal; common in fixed phrases like 'much obliged'

反義詞
  • ungrateful

    everyday opposite of 'grateful'; stronger than the opposite of 'indebted'

文法句型

be indebted to + somebody

be indebted to + somebody + for + something

用法筆記

Almost always predicative (after 'be', 'feel', 'remain') and almost always followed by 'to' naming the helper. Distinct from sense 2 because no money is involved — only gratitude.

常見錯誤

❌I am indebted with my teacher.
✅I am indebted to my teacher.
💡the preposition after 'indebted' is 'to', not 'with' or 'by'.
❌She is an indebted friend of mine.
✅I am indebted to her for her friendship.
💡'indebted' is not used attributively before a noun in this sense; use a predicative structure.

2. in the position of having borrowed money that has not yet been paid back, especi

2.形容詞C1
釋義

in the position of having borrowed money that has not yet been paid back, especially in a large amount that is hard to manage.

例句

The company is heavily indebted to several international banks after years of overspending.

be heavily indebted to + lender

Many small farmers became indebted after the drought destroyed two seasons of crops.

become indebted as a result of misfortune

同義詞
  • owing

    describes what is owed; 'indebted' describes the person/organisation

  • in debt

    everyday phrase; 'indebted' is the formal single-word adjective

  • encumbered

    very formal; specifically suggests debt that limits one's options

反義詞
  • debt-free

    everyday phrase, direct opposite

  • solvent

    formal; means able to pay all current debts

文法句型

be indebted to + lender

be heavily/deeply indebted

用法筆記

Frequently passive-shaped and almost always with adverbs of degree ('heavily', 'deeply', 'badly'). Subject is usually an organisation, country, or household, rarely a single person in everyday speech. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense always involves actual borrowed money, not gratitude.

常見錯誤

❌He owes indebted to the bank.
✅He is heavily indebted to the bank.
💡'indebted' is an adjective; you cannot say 'owes indebted'.
❌The country has indebted ten billion dollars.
✅The country is indebted to the tune of ten billion dollars.
💡'indebted' is not a verb; the amount comes via 'to the tune of' or a separate clause.