Learn about the difference between the homophones: owed and ode

Definitions

owed

Owed is the past tense of the verb 'owe', which means to have an obligation to pay or repay someone for something received.

Example

I owed my friend $50 for the dinner we had last week.

Example

He owed me a favor, so he helped me move to my new apartment.

ode

Ode is a noun that refers to a type of poem that is usually written in praise of something or someone. It typically has a formal structure and elevated language.

Example

Keats wrote an ode to a Grecian urn.

Example

The poet composed an ode to the beauty of nature.

Tips To Remember the Differences

Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:

To remember the difference between these two words, you can associate owed with debt or obligation, while ode is a type of poem that is written in praise of something or someone.