Word
due
US/ˈdju/
UK/djˈuː/
Definitions
01expected or scheduled
A2 · Elementary
adj. expected to happen or arrive at a particular time.
adj. expected or scheduled to occur or arrive at a specific time.
“The baby is due in early October, so they are preparing the nursery now.”
“The final report is due on the director's desk by Friday afternoon, leaving the team very little time for final revisions.”
Usage
Often followed by 'to' + infinitive or 'on/in' + time phrase.
02caused by
B1 · Intermediate
adj. caused by something or because of something.
adj. ascribable to a specific cause or origin; used in the phrase 'due to'.
“The flight delay was due to bad weather at the airport.”
“The sudden increase in share prices was largely due to speculation regarding a potential merger between the two tech giants.”
Usage
Always followed by the preposition 'to'.
Pitfall
The game was cancelled due to it rained.
The game was cancelled due to the rain.
The phrase 'due to' must be followed by a noun or noun phrase, not a full clause with a verb.
Teaching tip
In formal writing, some traditionalists prefer 'due to' only after a form of the verb 'to be', but it is widely used as a prepositional phrase in modern English.
Synonyms
03owed
B1 · Intermediate
adj. owed to someone as a debt or a right.
adj. owed as a debt or as a moral or legal obligation.
“The library sent a notice because the payment for the lost book was due.”
“After months of legal disputes, the court ruled that the back wages were due to the employees immediately.”
Antonyms
04appropriate
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
adj. the right amount of something for a situation.
adj. proper, adequate, or appropriate for the circumstances.
Español:debido
“Please make sure you handle the equipment with due care.”
“The committee reached its decision after due consideration of all the evidence presented during the hearing.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it modifies.
Synonyms
Antonyms
05directly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. directly or exactly in a certain direction, usually North, South, East, or West.
adv. directly or exactly; used almost exclusively with compass points.
“The ship sailed due north toward the Arctic Circle.”
“To find the hidden entrance, the hikers had to travel due east for three miles from the old oak tree.”
Usage
Always precedes a direction word.
06membership fees
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun American English
n. money that you pay regularly to be a member of a group or club.
n. regular payments made by members to an organisation or club to support its activities.
“I forgot to pay my annual union dues this month.”
“The club's board of directors voted to increase monthly dues to cover the rising costs of building maintenance.”
Usage
Almost always used in the plural form.
Teaching tip
In British English, 'subscriptions' or 'subs' is more common for clubs, though 'dues' is understood in a union context.
Synonyms
07deserved respect
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal
n. the respect or credit that someone deserves.
n. that which is deserved or merited, especially in terms of recognition or respect.
“She is a tough boss, but you have to give her her due; she gets results.”
“While I disagree with his politics, I must give him his due for his tireless work on behalf of his constituents.”
Usage
Commonly used in the idiom 'give someone their due'.
Teaching tip
This is often used when you are about to say something negative but want to acknowledge one positive point first.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “due” in context.
Verb
01. become due
“The final payment for the car will become due at the end of the month.”
verb + adj
Adjective
02. due in october
“My sister is pregnant and the baby is due in October.”
adj + prep + noun
Noun
03. due date
“Please make sure you submit your homework before the due date.”
adj + noun
04. due north
“If you keep walking due north, you will eventually reach the coast.”
adj + noun
05. due to the high
06. due diligence
07. due to start
08. due course
09. due to climate
10. due to come
11. due to concerns
12. due to lack
Word family
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0