beholden
bih-HOHL-dun
/bɪˈhoʊl.dən/
Owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service.
Beholden carries a weight of obligation. It is more formal and serious than simply saying 'indebted'.
The story behind the word. In Middle English, 'beholden' was the past participle of 'behold', which meant 'to hold or keep'. If you were beholden to someone, you were literally 'held' by your obligation to them.
Word relationships
- indebted: Indebted is more common and can refer to money; beholden is more about loyalty and duty.
- unobligated: Unobligated means having no duty or debt to anyone.
Commonly confused with
- beholding: Beholding is the act of looking at something; beholden is the state of owing someone.
Collocations
- beholden to
- not beholden to anyone
- deeply beholden
Example sentences
- "The senator insisted that he was not beholden to any special interest groups." Political independence.
- "I am deeply beholden to you for your kindness during my recovery." A personal expression of gratitude.
Memory hook
If you are beholden, someone is 'holding' a favor over your head. Be-holden: They hold your debt.
When not to use
Do not use this for simple financial debts; it is for moral or social obligations.
Fun facts
- The word 'behold' (to see) and 'beholden' (to owe) come from the same root, as 'holding' someone in your gaze was seen as a form of possession.
Related words
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.