due

1 of 3

adjective

ˈdü How to pronounce due (audio)
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 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 geniusA. 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

Example Sentences

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 See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Penny has not yet entered a plea in the case, and is due back in court July 17, free on a $100,000 bond. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 17 May 2023 As a result, minimum rent was due, the city informed SeaWorld. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2023 On the other hand, if her $1 million policy was instead owned by her life insurance trust, the $1 million in insurance would not be included in her estate, and no tax is due. Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 16 May 2023 My mother was pregnant with a much longed-for second child, due in the autumn. Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2023 Because with all due respect, there must be a foundation to meet any challenge. Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 13 May 2023 California’s budget challenges are due in large part to lower tax collections due to a sagging stock market. Adam Beam, Fortune, 12 May 2023 National attention surrounding Vallow’s case was due in part to the grisly details of the crimes. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2023 Morgan Stanley estimates that approximately $1.5 trillion will be due by the end of 2025, potentially leading to a wave of loan defaults. Carter Evans, CBS News, 11 May 2023
Noun
In addition to the monthly dues that Liberty members paid for coverage of their medical bills, all of these ventures benefited from taxpayer money. J. David Mcswane, ProPublica, 15 May 2023 Unfortunately, Black people from every corner of the diaspora have demonstrably not been given their due in the mainstream. Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 21 Apr. 2023 If fewer than 60 percent of eligible employees actually pay dues, the union will need to be recertified. The Editors, National Review, 3 May 2023 The part of the bill preventing automatic deductions of union dues would force union members to make separate payments, which would be less convenient. Jim Saunders, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2023 In an organized workplace, are union dues a requirement for the workers? Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2023 Michigan lawmakers were poised to take up legislation late Wednesday to repeal Michigan's right-to-work law that allows workers in unionized jobs to opt out of paying union dues and fees. Detroit Free Press, 8 Mar. 2023 Some states have already ended automatic dues deductions, with Arkansas in April being the latest. The Editors, National Review, 3 May 2023 The seven plaintiffs say that the restaurant spent at least some of that money—meant to pay workers and keep restaurants afloat as Covid-19 forced eateries to shut down—on extravagances like private planes and country-club dues. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'due.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near due

Cite this Entry

“Due.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/due. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

due

1 of 3 adjective
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

due

adjective
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on due

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!