due

[doo, dyoo]

adjective

1. owed at present; having reached the date for payment.

   This bill is due.

2. owing or owed, irrespective of whether the time of payment has arrived.

   This bill is due next month.

3. owing or observed as a moral or natural right.

4. rightful; proper; fitting.

   due care; in due time.

5. adequate; sufficient.

   a due margin for delay.

6. under engagement as to time; expected to be ready, be present, or arrive; scheduled.

   The plane is due at noon.

noun

1. something that is due, owed, or naturally belongs to someone.

2. Usually dues a regular fee or charge payable at specific intervals, especially to a group or organization.

   membership dues.

adverb

1. directly or exactly.

   a due east course.

2. Obsolete.,  duly.

due

/ djuː /

adjective

1. (postpositive) immediately payable

2. (postpositive) owed as a debt, irrespective of any date for payment

3. requisite; fitting; proper

4. (prenominal) adequate or sufficient; enough

5. (postpositive) expected or appointed to be present or arrive

   the train is now due

6. attributable to or caused by

noun

1. something that is owed, required, or due

2. to give or allow a person what is deserved or right

adverb

1. directly or exactly; straight

   a course due west

Usage

Due to as a prepositional phrase meaning “because of, owing to” has been in use since the 14th century: Due to the sudden rainstorm, the picnic was moved indoors. Some object to this use on the grounds that due is historically an adjective and thus should be used only predicatively in constructions like The delay was due to electrical failure. Despite such objections, due to occurs commonly as a compound preposition and is standard in all varieties of speech and writing.

The use of due to as a compound preposition (the performance has been cancelled due to bad weather) was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable

Pronunciation Note

See new.

Other Word Forms

• dueness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of due¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Anglo-French; Middle French deu, past participle of devoir, from Latin dēbēre “to owe”; debt

Word History and Origins

Origin of due¹

C13: from Old French deu, from devoir to owe, from Latin debēre; see _debt , _debit

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. give someone his / her due,

   1. to give what justice demands; treat fairly.

      Even though he had once cheated me, I tried to give him his due.

   2. to credit a disliked or dishonorable person for something that is likable, honorable, or the like.

2. due to,

   1. attributable to; ascribable to.

      The delay was due to heavy traffic.

   2. because of; owing to.

      All planes are grounded due to fog.

3. pay one's dues, to earn respect, a position, or a right by hard work, sacrifice, or experience.

   She's a famous musician now, but she paid her dues with years of practice and performing in small towns.

More idioms and phrases containing due

• give credit (where it's due)
• give someone his or her due
• give the devil his due
• in due course
• pay one's dues
• with all due respect

Example Sentences

Switzerland is not immune from those challenges, but the implications are much more profound for the high mountains of Asia, referred to by some as the Third Pole due to the volume of ice.

From BBC

Before her diagnosis, Ms Parker said she felt "suicidal" and now believes she was suffering from burnout due to being undiagnosed.

From BBC

He chose Chelsea due to his belief in their vision and the promise of a significant role in his first season, with his sights set on playing for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup.

From BBC

While phase two maintenance works, including full repainting and preservation, was not due to finish until spring 2026, the bridge had remained open while this took place.

From BBC

Partially due to the scheme, Harrods recorded a £34.3 million loss in its latest full year accounts, compared with a profit of £111 million the previous year.

From BBC

Related Words

• expected www.thesaurus.com
• outstanding 
• overdue 
• owed www.thesaurus.com
• payable 
• scheduled