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Preposition after adjective

beholden to, for or on?

Beholden is normally followed by to when expressing obligation, gratitude, or dependence.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows beholden?

Use beholden to someone or something: beholden to investors, beholden to tradition. Beholden for and beholden on are not standard modern combinations after this adjective.

The company is beholden to its largest client.
I remain beholden to my teachers.
The politician seemed beholden to wealthy donors.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
beholden to + person

Expressing gratitude or obligation

Use beholden to when you owe thanks or loyalty to a person or group.

She felt beholden to her mentor.
2
beholden to + organisation

Expressing dependence

Beholden to can describe financial or political dependence.

The outlet is not beholden to advertisers.
3
beholden to + idea/system

Expressing attachment to a system

The phrase can also describe influence from traditions or rules.

The design remains beholden to old conventions.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
beholden to
He is beholden to his supporters.
Standard modern pattern meaning obligated or dependent.
beholden for
I am beholden for your help is rare and old-fashioned.
Not the usual modern construction after beholden.
beholden on
Beholden on the company is not standard English.
Generally incorrect in current usage.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using for after beholden

Modern English normally uses to after beholden.

✕ We are beholden for their support. ✓ We are beholden to them for their support.

Using on instead of to

On is not the standard preposition after beholden.

✕ The group is beholden on sponsors. ✓ The group is beholden to sponsors.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She felt beholden ___ her family.
2. The newspaper is not beholden ___ advertisers.
3. Choose the standard sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

What does beholden to mean?

It means obligated, grateful, or dependent on someone or something.

Is beholden for ever used?

It appears in older or literary English, but modern standard English strongly prefers beholden to.

Can beholden have a negative meaning?

Yes. It often suggests unwanted dependence, especially in politics or business.

bad, for, bad, of baffling to, for, in, as or of? bankrupt in, by, for, as or with? "barefoot in" or "barefoot on"? "bare of", "bare with" or "bare in"? "basic of" or "basic to"? beautiful in, with, on, for or to? "beloved by", "beloved to" or "beloved of"? "bemused by" or "bemused at"? "beneficial to" or "beneficial for"? bereft of, at, by, in or without? bewildered by, at, as, with or in?

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