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Definition of due adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

due

adjective
 OPAL W
 
/djuː/
 
/duː/
Idioms
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    caused by

  1.  
     [not before noun] due to somebody/something caused by somebody/something; because of somebody/something
    • The team's success was largely due to her efforts.
    • He argues that climate change is mainly due to the actions of industrialized countries.
    • The increase in reported cases is partly due to growing public awareness of the disease.
    • This increase is due in part to the strong economy.
    • Most of the problems were due to human error.
    • The delay to the flight was due to the fact that there was ice on the runway.
    • The project had to be abandoned due to a lack of government funding.
    • Due to staff shortages, we are unable to offer a full buffet service on this train.
    Homophones dew | duedew   due
     
    /djuː/
     
    /duː/
    • dew noun
      • The dew sparkled in the morning sunlight.
    • due adjective
      • The fourth soloist was absent due to an illness.
    • due noun
      • Despite his talent, radio and TV have never given him his due.
    • due adverb
      • They sailed due north.
    Language Bank because ofbecause ofExplaining reasons
      • The number of people with diabetes is growing, partly because of an increase in levels of obesity.
      • The number of overweight children has increased dramatically in recent years, largely as a result of changes in diet and lifestyle.
      • The increase in childhood obesity is largely due to changes in lifestyle and diet over the last twenty years.
      • Childhood obesity is generally thought to be the result of eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity.
      • Many obese children are bullied at school on account of their weight.
      • Part of the problem with treating childhood obesity stems from the fact that parents do not always recognize that their children are obese.
      • Childhood obesity may be caused by genetic factors, as well as environmental ones.
    Some people think that it is more correct to use owing to to mean ‘because of’ after a verb or at the beginning of a clause, because due is an adjective. However, this use of due to is now very common and accepted as part of standard English.Topics Change, cause and effectb1

    2. expected

  2.  
     [not before noun] arranged or expected
    • When's the baby due?
    • The next train is due in five minutes.
    • My essay's due next Friday (= it has to be given to the teacher by then).
    • due to do something Rose is due to start school in January.
    • due for something The band's first album is due for release later this month.
    3.

    owed

  3.  
     [not usually before noun] when a sum of money is due, it must be paid immediately
    • Payment is due on 1 October.
    • Membership fees are now due for the coming year.
    Topics Permission and obligationb2, Moneyb2
  4. [not before noun] due (to somebody) owed to somebody as a debt, because it is their right or because they have done something to deserve it
    • Have they been paid the money that is due to them?
    • Our thanks are due to the whole team.
  5. [not before noun] owed something; deserving something
    • due something I'm still due 15 days' leave.
    • due for something She's due for promotion soon.
    6.

    suitable/right

  6. [only before noun] (formal) that is suitable or right in the circumstances
    • After due consideration, we have decided to appoint Mr Davis to the job.
    • Due allowance should be made for inexperience.
    • (British English) He was charged with driving without due care and attention.
    compare undue
    7. Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘payable’): from Old French deu ‘owed’, based on Latin debitus ‘owed’, from debere ‘owe’ .
Idioms
give credit where credit is due
  1. to give somebody the praise they deserve, even if you do not really want to
    • Give credit where credit is due—what the man does, he does well.
in due course
  1. at the right time and not before
    • Your request will be dealt with in due course.
    Topics Timec1
with respect | with all due respect
  1. (formal) used when you are going to disagree, usually quite strongly, with somebody
    • With all due respect, the figures simply do not support you on this.
    • With all due respect, I think you've misunderstood what he said.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc2
See due in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee due in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: due

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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