Due — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun adverb /ˈdü/

Meaning & Definition of Due

Due (adjective)

  1. owed or owing as a debt
  2. owed or owing as a natural or moral right
  3. according to accepted notions or procedures, appropriate

Due (noun)

  1. something due or owed
  2. something that rightfully belongs to one
  3. a payment or obligation required by law or custom, debt

Due (adverb)

  1. directly, exactly
  2. duly

Due (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having reached the date at which payment is required

    "the loan is due next April"

    similar: mature
    related: delinquent, outstanding, overdue, owed, owing, receivable, unpaid, unsettled, payable
    opposite: undue
    near: cleared, liquidated, paid (off or up), repaid, settled, prepaid

  2. being in accordance with the prescribed, normal, or logical course of events

    "their train is due to arrive in half an hour"

    similar: anticipated, awaited, expected, scheduled, slated
    near: behind, behindhand, belated, delinquent, dilatory, late, latish, overdue, tardy, early, premature, untimely, unanticipated, unforeseen, unlooked-for

  3. being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong

    "all the participants in the trial are required to treat the judge with due respect"

    similar: competent, condign, deserved, fair, just, justified, merited, right, rightful, warranted
    related: applicable, appropriate, apt, fit, fitting, meet, proper, requisite, suitable, lawful, legal, legitimate, accurate, correct, true, rhadamanthine, strict, stringent, uncompromising, equitable, impartial, square
    opposite: undeserved, undue, unfair, unjust, unjustified, unmerited, unwarranted
    near: incoherent, incorrect, irrelative, irrelevant, improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, indefensible, unjustifiable, unreasonable, unsuitable, biased, inequitable, partial, unequal, arbitrary, despotic, illegitimate, unlawful

Due (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as stated or indicated without the slightest difference

    "the island lies due south of the headland"

    similar: exactly, full, just, precisely, right, sharp, smack-dab, squarely, on the button, on the nose

  2. in a direct line or course

    "a plane flying due east"

    similar: dead, direct, directly, plumb, plump, right, straight, straightway, as the crow flies
    opposite: indirectly
    near: circuitously, deviously, veeringly

Due (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in call, privilege

    similar: call, dibs, entitlement, perquisite, pretense, pretension, privilege, appanage, birthright, prerogative, right

Related Entry: Due (to) (adjective)

Due (to) is a different word from Due. The synonyms below are for due (to), not for due.

  1. coming as a result

    "success that is due to hard work"

    similar: attendant, consequent, consequential, resultant
    related: accompanying, coincident, concomitant
    near: causal

Related Entry: Due to (preposition)

Due to is a different word from Due. The synonyms below are for due to, not for due.

  1. as the result of

    "evening classes were cancelled due to heavy snow"

    similar: because of, owing to, through, with, on account of

Related Entry: Course (noun)

Course is a different word from Due. The synonyms below are for course, not for due.

  1. a way of acting or proceeding

    "the president's usual course has been to obtain advice from several people and then make up his own mind"

    similar: line, methodology, policy, procedure, program
    related: blueprint, design, plan, scheme, strategy, intent, intention, purpose, approach, direction, method, path, pathway, tack

  2. a series of lectures on a subject

    "a course on American history from the colonial period to the present"

    similar: class, course of study
    related: elective, refresher, clinic, institute, seminar, survey course, minicourse, core, curriculum

  3. a usually fixed or ordered series of actions or events leading to a result

    "set out on the course that would lead to a college degree"

    similar: operation, procedure, proceeding, process
    related: drill, routine, fashion, form, manner, method, mode, style, system, technique, way, approach, arrangement, blueprint, design, formula, game plan, ground plan, layout, plan, plot, program, project, recipe, scheme, strategy, accomplishment, achievement, attainment, enterprise, performance, undertaking, work, activity, functioning, movement

  4. the direction along which something or someone moves

    "the river follows a southeasterly course to the ocean"

    similar: line, path, pathway, route, routeway (chiefly British), steps, track, way
    related: circle, circuit, loop, orbit, arc, flight path, trajectory, ascent, descent

  5. an open man-made passageway for water

    "the Erie Canal was replaced by a much larger course, the New York State Barge Canal"

    similar: aqueduct, canal, channel, conduit, flume, racecourse, raceway, watercourse, waterway
    related: millrace, millstream, floodway, sluice, sluiceway, spillway, swash, tideway, torrent, gutter, trough, river, rivulet, stream

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Due

The most common words with a similar meaning to Due:

mature, anticipated, awaited, expected, scheduled, slated, competent, condign, deserved, fair, just, justified, merited, right, rightful, warranted, exactly, full, precisely, sharp, smack-dab, squarely, dead, direct, directly, plumb, plump, straight, straightway, on the button, on the nose, as the crow flies, call, dibs, entitlement, perquisite, pretense, pretension, privilege, appanage

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Due

Words with the opposite meaning of Due:

undue, undeserved, unfair, unjust, unjustified, unmerited, unwarranted, indirectly

Related Words for Due

delinquent, outstanding, overdue, owed, owing, receivable, unpaid, unsettled, payable, applicable, appropriate, apt, fit, fitting, meet, proper, requisite, suitable, lawful, legal, legitimate, accurate, correct, true, rhadamanthine, strict, stringent, uncompromising, equitable, impartial

Near Antonyms of Due

cleared, liquidated, paid (off or up), repaid, settled, prepaid, behind, behindhand, belated, delinquent, dilatory, late, latish, overdue, tardy, early, premature, untimely, unanticipated, unforeseen, unlooked-for, incoherent, incorrect, irrelative, irrelevant, improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt

Word Forms of Due

Derived words: dueness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Due

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

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Due

due diligence, due process, due to, due date, due for, holder in due course, in due course

Frequently Asked Questions about Due

What does "Due" mean?

"Due" means owed or owing as a debt. As an an adjective, a noun and an adverb, it is defined as: owed or owing as a debt. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Due"?

Other words for "Due" include mature, anticipated, awaited, expected, scheduled, slated, competent and condign. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Due" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Due"?

There are 73 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Due". Common alternatives include mature, anticipated, awaited, expected, scheduled, slated, competent, condign, deserved and fair.

What is the opposite of "Due"?

Antonyms of "Due" include undue, undeserved, unfair, unjust, unjustified, unmerited, unwarranted and indirectly. Near antonyms include cleared, liquidated, paid (off or up) and repaid.

How do you use "Due" in a sentence?

Examples of "Due" in a sentence: "the loan is due next April"; "their train is due to arrive in half an hour"; "all the participants in the trial are required to treat the judge with due respect".

Is "Due" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Due" can be used as an adjective, a noun and an adverb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Due"?

"Due" is pronounced /ˈdü/.

What is the origin of the word "Due"?

"Due" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French deu, past participle of dever to owe, from Latin debēre debt. First known use: 14th century.