due to

preposition

: as a result of : because of
due to the complaints of uptight parents … he lost his jobHerbert Gold
Using Due to: Usage Guide

The objection to due to as a preposition is only a continuation of disagreements that began in the 18th century over the proper uses of owing and due. Due to is as grammatically sound as owing to, which is frequently recommended in its place. It has been and is used by reputable writers and has been recognized as standard for decades. There is no solid reason to avoid due to.

Examples of due to in a Sentence

evening classes were cancelled due to heavy snow
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.
Credit is due to the pop savvy Tesfaye has accrued over the years, and the crack team of songwriters and producers he’s assembled, for the more resplendent moments of Hurry Up Tomorrow. Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2025 The struggles aren’t solely due to high costs of doing work in Los Angeles. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025 This is due to cooler sea surface temperatures near the coast that allow storms like nor’easters to tap into colder air and produce more snow instead of rain. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 4 Feb. 2025 Witness in 2022 sword attack fatally stabbed in January Vallejo police accuse Snyder of stabbing to death landlord Curtis Lind, 82, who was due to testify later this year against two people accused of assaulting him in 2022 over a rent dispute. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for due to 

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of due to was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near due to

Cite this Entry

“Due to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/due%20to. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

due to

preposition
: because of

More from Merriam-Webster on due to

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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