What does the phrasal verb “owe to” mean?

What are the definitions of “owe to”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Be the reason for something.

  She OWES her success TO hard work and determination.

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “owe to”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb owe to is to be the reason for something or to attribute something to a particular cause. It is often used to explain the cause of a person's success, failure, or any other situation.

What are the different verb forms of “owe to”?

Root Verb	owe to
Third Person Singular Present	owes to
Present Participle	owing to
Simple Past	owed to
Past Participle	owed to

Example

His good health is owed to regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Example

She owes her success to hard work and determination.

Example

The company's growth is owing to its innovative products and excellent customer service.

Example

Their victory owed to their strong teamwork and dedication.

Example

The success of the project was owed to the efforts of the entire team.

What kind of phrasal verb is “owe to”?

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Transitive verb

“owe to” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.

Example

He owes his success to his parents' support.

Example

The team owed their win to their coach's guidance.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“owe to” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

He owes his success to his parents' support.

Example

The team owed their win to their coach's guidance.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “owe to”?

Owe someone a debt of gratitude

To feel very grateful to someone for their help or support.

Example

I owe my teacher a debt of gratitude for inspiring me to pursue my dreams.

Owe someone an apology

To need to apologize to someone for something you did wrong.

Example

I owe you an apology for my rude behavior yesterday.

Owe someone a favor

To feel that you should do something for someone because they have done something for you.

Example

You helped me last time, so I owe you a favor.

Good things to know

Does “owe to” have an informal or formal tone?

Owe to is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal settings, such as academic writing or professional discussions.

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “owe to”?

Synonyms

• attribute to
• ascribe to
• credit to
• assign to
• impute to
• refer to
• trace to
• chalk up to

Antonyms

• discredit
• deny
• dispute
• refute
• reject
• disregard
• ignore
• overlook