DUE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does due mean? 

• DUE (noun)
  The noun DUE has 2 senses:

1. that which is deserved or owed

2. a payment that is due (e.g., as the price of membership)

  Familiarity information: DUE used as a noun is rare.

• DUE (adjective)
  The adjective DUE has 4 senses:

1. owed and payable immediately or on demand

2. scheduled to arrive

3. suitable to or expected in the circumstances

4. capable of being assigned or credited to

  Familiarity information: DUE used as an adjective is uncommon.

• DUE (adverb)
  The adverb DUE has 1 sense:

1. directly or exactly; straight

  Familiarity information: DUE used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DUE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

That which is deserved or owed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

give the devil his due

Hypernyms ("due" is a kind of...):

right (an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A payment that is due (e.g., as the price of membership)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Context example:

the society dropped him for non-payment of dues

Hypernyms ("due" is a kind of...):

fixed charge; fixed cost; fixed costs (a periodic charge that does not vary with business volume (as insurance or rent or mortgage payments etc.))

• DUE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Owed and payable immediately or on demand

Context example:

payment is due

Similar:

callable (subject to a demand for payment before due date)

cod; collect (payable by the recipient on delivery)

collectable; collectible; payable (subject to or requiring payment especially as specified)

delinquent; overdue (past due; not paid at the scheduled time)

receivable (awaiting payment)

on time (payable in installments within a designated period of time)

out-of-pocket (calling for the spending of cash)

repayable (subject to repayment)

Antonym:

undue (not yet payable)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Scheduled to arrive

Context example:

the train is due in 15 minutes

Similar:

expected (considered likely or probable to happen or arrive)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Suitable to or expected in the circumstances

Context example:

exercising due care

Antonym:

undue (not appropriate or proper (or even legal) in the circumstances)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Capable of being assigned or credited to

Synonyms:

ascribable; due; imputable; referable

Context example:

the oversight was not imputable to him

Similar:

attributable (capable of being attributed)

• DUE (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Directly or exactly; straight

Context example:

went due North

 Context examples 

Mr. Micawber immediately descended to the bar, where he appeared to be quite at home; and in due time returned with a steaming jug.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Environmental effects, such as interactions with the interstellar medium and forces due to stellar companions, may have long-term implications for the evolution of such systems.

(Hubble Finds Huge System of Dusty Material Enveloping the Young Star HR 4796A, NASA)

The goods leave by the train at 9:30 to-night, and will be due at King's Cross at 4:30 to-morrow afternoon.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The DNA swapping is unusual in that it occurs between the two “subgenomes” of the two contributing wild species—something that’s possible due to their high similarity.

(Peanut Genome Sequenced with Unprecedent Accuracy, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Due to the small size of Beagle 2 (less than 7 feet, or 2 meters across for the deployed lander) it is right at the limit of detection of HiRISE, the highest-resolution camera orbiting Mars.

('Lost' 2003 Mars Lander Found by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA)

As it was, it made me quite squeamish, though this nausea might have been due to the pain of my leg and exhaustion.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Earthshine is easiest to see around the time of a new Moon due to the position of Earth and the Moon in their orbits.

(Earthshine, NASA)

Some evidence suggests that acetylcysteine may exert an anti-apoptotic effect due to its antioxidant activity, possibly preventing cancer cell development or growth.

(Acetylcysteine, NCI Thesaurus)

From the wild stringy root of human uprightness, she has reared a due sense of the Divine justice.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

An indication that the subject's death or sacrifice was due to a mishap or technical/operational error.

(Accidental Death, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)