SAT Basic
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debt

/det/
English Definition
n. something owed
中文释义
债务
Example Sentence

The country's mounting debt forced its government to implement strict austerity measures.

该国不断增加的债务迫使政府实施严格的紧缩措施。

Synonyms
Antonyms
credit asset
Seen in practice — from the Digital SAT question bank

The economist's argument unfolds through a series of simplified hypothetical households, each one adding a single new variable—savings rate, then debt level, then access to credit—to isolate how each factor individually affects a household's response to an interest rate change.

From a Text Structure and Purpose question · Craft and Structure

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Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
debt (debt)
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Practice — Definition Match

Which choice best defines “debt”?

  1. A Big change, political overthrow
  2. B A person who supports and admires a particular person or set of ideas
  3. C Strong wind
  4. D Something owed
Show answer

D — Something owed. “debt” means something owed.

Practice — Which Word Fits?

Which word means “something owed”?

  1. A debt
  2. B follower
  3. C gale
  4. D revolution
Show answer

A — debt. “debt” means something owed.

Common questions about “debt”

What does “debt” mean?

debt — something owed. In Chinese: 债务.

How do you pronounce “debt”?

debt is pronounced /det/.

How is “debt” used in a sentence?

The country's mounting debt forced its government to implement strict austerity measures. (该国不断增加的债务迫使政府实施严格的紧缩措施。)

What are synonyms for “debt”?

obligation, liability, arrears — all close in meaning to debt (something owed).

What is the opposite of “debt”?

credit, asset — each the opposite of debt (something owed).

Is “debt” an SAT vocabulary word?

Yes. debt is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.

How can I remember “debt”?

debt (debt)

Progress / 学习进度
18%
through SAT Basic
This level: 0 mastered (0% of the level)
The Digital SAT tests vocabulary through Words in Context questions, never as a standalone definition. Learn the word, then use it against a real passage.