1 owe sth (to sb);owe sb for sth to have to pay money to sb for sth that he/she has done or given 欠（钱）: I owe Katrina a lot of money. 我欠卡特里娜很多钱。I owe a lot of money to Katrina. 我欠卡特里娜很多钱。I still owe you for that bread you bought yesterday. 你昨天给我买了面包，我现在还没有付钱给你呢。 ☞The money, etc that you owe is a debt. 欠的钱等叫做债(debt)。

2 to feel that you should do sth for sb or give sth to sb, especially because he/she has done sth for you 感到应该为某人做某事或给某人某物（尤其因为对方为你做了某事）: Claudia owes me an explanation. 克劳迪娅应该给我一个解释。I owe you an apology. 我应当向你道歉。

3 owe sth (to sb/sth) to have sth (for the reason given) 把…归功于: She said she owes her success to hard work and determination. 她说，她应当把自己的成功归因于努力工作和决心。