Synonyms of duenext
1
: owed or owing as a debt
is due a full week's pay
2
a
: owed or owing as a natural or moral right
finally got the recognition she was due
give credit where credit is due
everyone's right to dissent … is due the full protection of the ConstitutionNat Hentoff
b
: according to accepted notions or procedures : appropriate
with all due respect
3
a
: satisfying or capable of satisfying a need, obligation, or duty : adequate
giving the matter due attention
b
: regular, lawful
due proof of loss
4
: capable of being attributed : ascribable
used with to
This advance is partly due to a few men of genius …A. N. Whitehead
5
: having reached the date at which payment is required : payable
the rent is due
6
: required or expected in the prescribed, normal, or logical course of events : scheduled
The train is due at noon.
When is the baby due?
also : expected to give birth
has a friend who is due in April
dueness noun

due

2 of 3

noun

: something due (see due entry 1) or owed: such as
a
: something that rightfully belongs to one
give him his due
b
: a payment or obligation required by law or custom : debt
c
dues plural : fees, charges
membership dues

due

3 of 3

adverb

1
: directly, exactly
due north
2
obsolete : duly

Examples of due in a Sentence

Adjective My wife is due in three weeks. The bill is due at the end of the month. The balance is now due. The amount due is 45 dollars. Noun Dues are increasing this year. Workers are required to join the union and pay dues. He deserves to be given his due. Adverb the island lies due south of the headland a plane flying due east
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Rogers was bought for an initial £7m from Middlesbrough and, even as there were a further £8m in potential add-ons, and his former club is due a sizeable sell-on, that record £117m fee confers significant profit at Villa Park. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 22 July 2026 This filing would add compliance burdens even if no tax was ultimately due, given the high lifetime exemption (approximately $15 million per individual, as indexed for inflation in 2026). Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Noun
Beyond his salary, the nonprofit also covered Lateef’s housing allowance and membership dues at private organizations like the Economic Club of Chicago. Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026 Someone who’s paying a fortune, and therefore expects super-human service in exchange for six-figure annual dues or forking over $4,000 per night for a room? Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for due

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Noun, and Adverb

Middle English, from Anglo-French deu, past participle of dever to owe, from Latin debēre — more at debt

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of due was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Due.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/due. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: owed or owing as a debt or right
respect due to the court
2
: according to accepted beliefs or procedures : appropriate entry 2
treat the judge with due respect
3
a
: sufficient, adequate
arrived in due time
b
: regular entry 1 sense 2a, lawful
due process of law
4
: being a result
used with to
accidents due to carelessness
5
: having reached the date at which payment is required
bills are due
6
: required or expected to happen
due to arrive any minute now

due

2 of 3 noun
1
: something owed : debt
2
plural : a regular or legal charge or fee
membership dues

due

3 of 3 adverb

Medical Definition

: expected to be born in the normal course of events
the baby is due in November
also : expected to give birth
she's due this month

Legal Definition

due

adjective
1
a
: satisfying or capable of satisfying an obligation, duty, or requirement under the law
the buyer's due performance under the contract
due proof of loss
b
: proper under the law
obstructing due administration of justice
2
: capable of being attributed
used with to
any loss due to neglect
3
a
: having reached the date at which payment is required : payable
b
: owed though not yet required to be paid
4
Etymology

Adjective

Old French deu, past participle of devoir to owe, from Latin debere

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