English Reference
noun

dues

n.
US /ˈduz/ UK /djˈuːz/ dues

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the regular payments you make to belong to a club, union, or professional group.

    regularly scheduled payments required for membership in an organisation, such as a trade union or professional association.

    Simple

    If you don't pay your annual dues by January, you might lose your membership.

    In context

    The union representative reminded the workers that their monthly dues funded the legal team currently negotiating the new contract.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    the hard work or difficult experiences you go through to earn success or respect.

    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'.

    Simple

    She spent years working in small offices to pay her dues before becoming a manager.

    In context

    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'.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated