A debt is an amount of money that someone owes.

The idea

Use a debt for an amount owed, in debt for the state of owing money, and pay off a debt for repaying it completely.

Examples

  • They paid off their debt in May.
  • The shop has a large debt.
  • We borrowed money and got into debt.
  • Her debt grew after she lost her job.
  • The farm cleared its debts last year.
  • He is saving to pay back the debt.

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Watch out

Being in debt does not necessarily mean that a payment is overdue.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct word. The loan is a ___ that must be repaid. (debt / profit)

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    debt

    debt names the money owed.

  2. Choose the correct word. After borrowing too much, they got ___ debt. (into / at)

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    into

    into marks the move to a state of owing money.

  3. Choose the correct word. We hope to pay ___ the loan completely. (off / on)

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    off

    off completes the phrase for full repayment.

Use it today

Describe a debt and how it could be repaid.