Macmillan Dictionary

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

debt

 - definition
 
 
 
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
noun British English pronunciation: debt /det/ 
Word Forms
Close
singulardebt
pluraldebts
Other entries for this word
  1. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of debt
    1. a.
      [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.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of debt
  2. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of debt

This is the British English definition of debt. View American English definition of debt.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for debt.

 

caxirola

a percussion instrument used by football fans which makes a rattling sound when shaken

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

emancipation

the process of giving freedom and rights to someone

Open Dictionary

pierce the corporate veil

… the decision to treat the rights and duties of a company as being the same as the rights and duties of its shareholders

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog