due

Expected or required to happen or arrive at a particular time.

• The bus is due soon.
• Our baby is due in May.
• When is the next payment due?

How to use it: due to do something (The train is due to leave at six.); due at/on/by a time (Your report is due by Friday.)

Similar words: expected, scheduled

Common phrases: due tomorrow, due date, due to arrive, due at noon

Owed to someone or deserved by them.

• You are due some money.
• Give her the credit she is due.
• The wages due to the workers have not been paid.

How to use it: something is due to someone (A refund is due to every customer.); someone is due something (You are due a full refund.)

Similar words: owed, deserved

Opposites: undeserved

Common phrases: due to someone, due credit, due respect

As much as is needed or appropriate in a situation.

• Please give this due attention.
• She handled the equipment with due care.
• After due consideration, the committee approved the request.

Similar words: proper, adequate, appropriate

Opposites: inadequate

Common phrases: due attention, due care, due consideration, due diligence

In an exact north, south, east, or west direction.

• The island is due north of here.
• Our camp was due west of the village.
• The lighthouse lies two miles due south of the harbour.

How to use it: due north/south/east/west of something (The village is due east of the lake.)

Common phrases: due north, due south, due east, due west

Exactly towards north, south, east, or west.

• Walk due north.
• The ship sailed due east.
• Are we heading due south?

How to use it: due north/south/east/west (We sailed due west for two hours.)

Similar words: directly, exactly

Common phrases: due north, due south, due east, due west

Money you regularly pay to belong to a club or organization, usually called dues.

• Please pay your club dues.
• The union increased its monthly dues.
• Have you paid this year’s membership dues?

Similar words: membership fee, subscription

Common phrases: membership due, annual due, club due

The praise or recognition that someone deserves.

• Give him his due; he tried.
• She finally got her due after years of hard work.
• To give them their due, they admitted their mistake.

How to use it: give someone their due (Give her her due: she worked harder than anyone.)

Similar words: credit, recognition

Common phrases: give someone their due, get your due, someone’s due

Because of a particular thing or situation; used with to.

• The match stopped due to rain.
• The shop is closed due to illness.
• Due to heavy traffic, we arrived late.

How to use it: due to something (The flight was cancelled due to fog.)

Similar words: because of, owing to

Common phrases: due to rain, due to something, due to illness