debt

noun

UK /det/

Word Forms

singular	debt
plural	debts

1
countable an amount of money that you owe
By this time we had debts of over £15,000.
run up a debt (=let it increase):
She had run up debts of nearly £10,000.
pay (off)/repay a debt:
Many people experience difficulty in paying off their debts.
clear/settle a debt (=pay all of it):
She agreed to settle her sister’s debts.
cancel/write off a debt (=decide that it does not have to be paid):
The bank finally agreed to cancel the debt.
Synonyms and related words
Money that you owe
arrears
bad debt
balance
1. 1a
  uncountable a situation in which you owe money to other people
  be in debt (to someone):
  I don’t like being in debt to anyone.
  go/get/run into debt:
  She was terrified of getting into debt.
  heavily/deeply in debt:
  Many students are heavily in debt.
  Synonyms and related words
  Money that you owe
  arrears
  bad debt
  balance
2
singular an obligation to be grateful to someone because they have done something for you
owe a debt of gratitude to someone:
I owe a debt of gratitude to my father, who has always supported me.
Synonyms and related words
Grateful and gratitude
grateful
gratitude
thankful
3
uncountable economicsthe total amount of money that the government of a country owes to banks and to other countries that it has borrowed from
Synonyms and related words
Money that you owe
arrears
bad debt
balance
4
debt of honour
a debt that you owe someone for moral reasons
She owed him a debt of honour for rescuing her following the accident.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 28/08/2018
Open Dictionary - August2018

debt ​‌‌‌

debt of honour

debt ​‌‌‌

debt of honour

debt

debt