beholden

beholden — adjective

1. feeling that you owe someone support, thanks, or special consideration because t

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

feeling that you owe someone support, thanks, or special consideration because their help, money, or influence has benefited you.

Example

After the loan, Daniel felt beholden to his uncle for years.

feel beholden to somebody for something

Maria never likes being beholden to relatives for rent money.

being beholden to somebody for something

Common collocations
  • beholden to family
  • beholden to donors
  • beholden to backers
  • beholden to no one
  • feel beholden
  • deeply beholden
Synonyms
  • indebted

    very close in meaning, but slightly broader and not always as formal

  • obligated

    stresses duty more directly and often sounds more official

  • grateful

    warmer and softer; it does not usually suggest pressure to repay

  • dependent

    focuses on needing someone, not on owing them for a past favor

Antonyms
  • independent

    not controlled by favors or help from others

  • free

    not under another person's influence or obligation

Grammar Patterns

be beholden to somebody

be beholden to somebody for something

feel beholden to somebody

become beholden to somebody

Usage Note

Formal and most often used after a linking verb such as be, feel, or become. It is common when the other person or group has money, power, or influence, and it suggests more pressure to repay or please them than grateful does.

Common Mistakes

I am beholden to you for inviting me to dinner.
I am grateful to you for inviting me to dinner.
Use 'beholden' when a favor leaves you under obligation, not for ordinary thanks.

Word family

  • behold
    verbC2
  • beholder
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Beholden' is formal and often carries an uncomfortable sense of dependence. If you are beholden to someone, you do not just feel thankful; you may feel that you owe support, loyalty, or special treatment in return. 'Indebted' is very close, but it can be a little broader and may refer to ideas or inspiration as well as favors. 'Obligated' focuses more directly on duty and can sound more official or impersonal. 'Grateful' is warmer and does not by itself suggest pressure to repay. 'Dependent' emphasizes needing someone, not owing them because of a past kindness. Compare: 'She was grateful for the ride, but not beholden to the driver.' 'The minister became beholden to donors' suggests political pressure, not simple thanks.

beholden ↗indebtedobligatedgrateful ↗dependent ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • deeply beholden
  • financially beholden
  • politically beholden

Phrases

  • beholden to no one

Prepositions

  • beholden to
  • beholden to somebody for something

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word appeared in late Middle English as an old past-participle form of 'behold'. In this adjective, the older idea was not 'see' but 'hold' or 'bind'. That is why 'beholden' came to mean being tied to someone by a favor, gift, or act of help, and it kept that sense even after the main verb 'behold' became mostly connected with seeing.