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

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

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.

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

Slash was first drawn to the event in 2013 due to a haunted house themed around the music and images of Black Sabbath.

From Los Angeles Times

The credit for pulling that off is as much due to Jonsson’s presence as it is to the script.

From Salon

Her account was then closed by the bank due to fraud concerns.

From BBC

Cutler was charged with DUI, possession of a handgun while under the influence, failure to exercise due care and violating implied consent.

From Los Angeles Times

The 30-year-old star was due to perform on Sunday 7 September and Monday 8 September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but promoters Live Nation said no event licence could be provided without adequate public transport.

From BBC

Related Words

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