due

1 of 3

adjective

ˈdü 

ˈdyü

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 Constitution

—Nat 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

Synonyms

Adjective

• owing
• unpaid
• outstanding
• owed

Adverb

• just
• right
• sharp

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

Adjective

Political analysts caution that such cohesion will be more challenging when the parties are in competition in a parliamentary election due by 2030. —CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025

These spots are all gone, but now, due in part to the rise of #BookTok, where genre fiction often goes viral, booksellers are once again getting more targeted in their approach. —Hilton Als, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025

Noun

Gen Zers could pay off their dues by landing high-paying jobs, but those are in short supply. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025

Public radio and television stations also are working with NPR on dues-reduction packages. —Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025

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

Phrases Containing due

• come due
• due date
• due diligence
• due for
• due process
• due to
• holder in due course
• in due course
• in due time
• past due
• postage-due stamp
• procedural due process
• substantive due process
• with (all) (due) respect
• with due regard to

Rhymes for due

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

due

1 of 3 adjective

ˈd(y)ü 

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

: directly entry 1 sense 1, exactly

due north

Medical Definition

due

adjective

ˈd(y)ü 

: 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

: reasonable sense 1a, b

Etymology

Adjective

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