due
dyoo
Due (adj) means Owed, or expected to arrive or happen at a particular time. Example: “The rent is due on the first of the month.”
adj
1
Owed, or expected to arrive or happen at a particular time.
"The rent is due on the first of the month."
"Her baby is due in three weeks."
"The train is due at platform four in about ten minutes."
2
Fitting or appropriate, as in "due care" or "due respect."
"He handled the negotiation with due care."
"Give the matter due consideration before deciding."
"With due respect, I think there may be a mistake in the report."
adv
1
Directly, especially when giving a compass direction.
"The trail runs due north from the cabin."
"The ship sailed due east until the coast came into view."
"Keep walking due south and you will reach the river."
noun
1
Something owed, deserved, or rightfully belonging to someone.
"She finally got her due after years of hard work."
"Give credit where it's due."
"The coach gave the young goalkeeper his due after a fine season."
2
A regular payment required for membership in a club or organization (usually "dues").
"He hasn't paid his union dues this year."
"Members must pay their dues by the end of January to keep voting rights."
"The golf club raised its annual dues to cover the cost of repairs."
How to use due
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOwed, expected, or rightly deserved — the exact sense depends on context.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "due to" (caused by) with "owing to" in formal writing — some style guides insist "due to" should only follow a form of "to be" (e.g. "The delay was due to weather"), not start a sentence.
Common pairings
due date
due to
due diligence
in due course
give someone their due
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Word forms
- Plural
- dues
- Comparative
- more due
- Superlative
- most due
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The rent is _____ on the first of the month.
Etymology
From Old French deü, "owed," the past participle of devoir ("to owe") — ultimately from Latin debere, also the root of "debt" and "duty."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for due
See all rhymes for due →Frequently asked questions
What does “due” mean?
The word “due” means owed, or expected to arrive or happen at a particular time. In plain terms, owed, expected, or rightly deserved — the exact sense depends on context.
How do you pronounce “due”?
“Due” is pronounced dyoo (/djuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “due” in a sentence?
Here is “due” used in a sentence: “The rent is due on the first of the month.”
What part of speech is “due”?
Depending on how it is used, “due” can be an adjective, an adverb and a noun.
Where does the word “due” come from?
The word “due” comes from Latin. From Old French deü, "owed," the past participle of devoir ("to owe") — ultimately from Latin debere, also the root of "debt" and "duty.".
Is “due” a common word?
“Due” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “due” have?
“Due” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: owed, or expected to arrive or happen at a particular time.
What is the difference between due and overdue?
Due means something is expected or owed at a set time - a payment due on Friday, or a baby due next month. Overdue means that time has already passed without it happening - a library book kept too long, or a bill unpaid past its date. Overdue is late; due is on schedule.
What does 'due to' mean?
'Due to' means 'caused by' or 'because of.' In 'the delay was due to bad weather,' it points to the reason behind something. It also appears in phrases like 'due to arrive,' meaning scheduled or expected - as in 'the train is due to arrive at noon.'
What does it mean when a payment is due?
A payment that is due is owed and must be made by a particular date, called the due date. Before that date it is simply due; after it, if unpaid, it becomes overdue and may attract late fees. 'Due' marks the deadline itself, not lateness.
What does 'in due course' mean?
'In due course' means at the proper or appropriate time - without unnecessary delay, but not immediately. If someone says a reply will come in due course, they mean it will arrive when the time is right, following the normal order of things.
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