owe

/əʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /əʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈō/ (ame, mw)

owe — verb

  • owepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • oweshe / she / it
  • owedpast simple
  • owing-ing form

1. to still have money, goods, or some other thing left to pay back, return, or han

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to still have money, goods, or some other thing left to pay back, return, or hand over to someone

例句

I still owe the bank three hundred dollars from last winter.

owe + institution + amount

Marta owes the dentist eighty dollars for last week's visit.

owe somebody something for something

同義詞
  • be in debt

    focuses on the state of owing money rather than a single unpaid item

  • be indebted

    more formal and often used in writing

  • have outstanding

    often used for unpaid bills, fees, or balances in business contexts

反義詞
  • repay

    to give money back after borrowing it

  • settle

    to pay all of what is due, especially a bill or debt

文法句型

owe somebody money

owe somebody something

owe something to somebody

owe somebody something for something

用法筆記

Often used for money, bills, rent, or things that must be given back. Distinguish from sense 2, where the owed thing is usually an apology, thanks, or another response rather than an unpaid amount or borrowed object.

常見錯誤

❌I owe to the bank five hundred dollars.
✅I owe the bank five hundred dollars.
💡'owe' can take the person or institution directly as its object.
❌She owes back my book.
✅She owes me my book back.
💡put the person before the thing in the common two-object pattern.

2. to be expected to give someone thanks, help, or another response after that pers

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to be expected to give someone thanks, help, or another response after that person has helped you or deserves it

例句

After the rescue, the village owed Captain Lee its thanks.

owe somebody thanks

Mina owes her coach a phone call before quitting the team.

同義詞

文法句型

owe somebody thanks

owe somebody an apology

owe somebody an explanation

owe something to somebody

用法筆記

The object is often an apology, thanks, the truth, an explanation, or better treatment. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about unpaid money or things, and from sense 3, which explains the cause of success rather than a duty to respond.

常見錯誤

❌I owe an apology for Maya.
✅I owe Maya an apology.
💡this sense commonly puts the person before the thing you should give.
❌We owe to our staff better training.
✅We owe our staff better training.
💡do not add 'to' before the person in the two-object pattern.

3. to have your success, condition, or existence because of a person, thing, or ear

3.動詞及物C2
釋義

to have your success, condition, or existence because of a person, thing, or earlier event

例句

This small cafe owes its fame to one food blogger.

owe something to somebody

Our safe landing owed everything to the pilot's calm voice.

owe everything to somebody

同義詞

文法句型

owe something to somebody

owe something to something

owe everything to somebody

用法筆記

The subject is usually something abstract such as success, fame, safety, life, or confidence. Distinguish from sense 2, where a person owes a response; here the sentence explains where a result comes from.

常見錯誤

❌Her success owes from hard work.
✅Her success owes much to hard work.
💡this sense normally uses 'owe ... to ...', not 'owe from'.

4. to be required to follow and stand behind a ruler, state, or organization that h

4.動詞及物C2
釋義

to be required to follow and stand behind a ruler, state, or organization that holds power over you

例句

In those days, farmers owed loyalty to the local lord.

formal collocation: owe loyalty to

By law, soldiers owe obedience to the civilian government.

formal collocation: owe obedience to

同義詞
  • be loyal to

    broader and less formal

  • serve

    can stress active support or duty under authority

  • be subject to

    focuses more on being under authority than on personal loyalty

反義詞
  • defy

    to refuse to obey authority

  • betray

    to turn against a leader, country, or cause

文法句型

owe allegiance to somebody

owe loyalty to somebody

owe obedience to somebody

用法筆記

Mostly appears with nouns such as allegiance, loyalty, and obedience, especially in legal, political, or historical writing. Distinguish from sense 2, where the duty is personal; this sense is tied to authority and formal support.

常見錯誤

❌Citizens owe to the king.
✅Citizens owe allegiance to the king.
💡this sense normally appears with a noun like 'allegiance', 'loyalty', or 'obedience'.