Word
dues
US/ˈduz/
UK/djˈuːz/
Definitions
01membership fees
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun
n. the regular payments you make to belong to a club, union, or professional group.
n. regularly scheduled payments required for membership in an organisation, such as a trade union or professional association.
“If you don't pay your annual dues by January, you might lose your membership.”
“The union representative reminded the workers that their monthly dues funded the legal team currently negotiating the new contract.”
Synonyms
02earned respect or status
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun Informal
n. the hard work or difficult experiences you go through to earn success or respect.
n. the effort, hardship, or experience considered necessary to earn a particular status or level of success; often used in the phrase 'pay one's dues'.
“She spent years working in small offices to pay her dues before becoming a manager.”
“Having paid his dues in the minor leagues for nearly a decade, the veteran player was finally called up to the national team.”
Usage
Commonly occurs in the fixed idiom 'pay one's dues'.
Synonyms
Idioms
01. pay one's dues
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
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