due

American  

[doo, dyoo] / du, dyu /

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.

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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.

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.

due British  

/ 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

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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

due More Idioms  

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

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Pronunciation

See new.

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

Other Word Forms

• dueness noun

Etymology

Origin of due

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

Example Sentences

The government has said it is aiming for the changes to be in force by the next general election, which is due to take place by 2029 but could be called earlier than this.

From BBC

Part of the reason could be due to the money they earn playing sports in college.

From MarketWatch

The trial is due to conclude in March.

From BBC

Van Der Beek made a surprise virtual appearance at a Dawson's Creek reunion charity event on 22 September, having been forced to pull out of the live event due to having two stomach viruses.

From BBC

The 28-year-old master's student was ultimately not taken into custody after medical personnel determined that he risked losing consciousness due to the large amount of lost blood.

From Barron's

Related Words

• expected
• outstanding
• overdue
• owed
• payable
• scheduled