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dude rancher
dude up
dudeen
dudette
dudgeon
Dudley
duds
dudu
due
due bill
due date
due diligence
due-on-sale clause
due process
duel
dueling pistol
duelist
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due
due [ doo ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. expected to arrive: expected to arrive imminently
The baby is due in three weeks.
2. ready: awaiting an event, as part of a normal chain or progression of other events
due for a long-awaited promotion
3. caused by somebody or something: caused by or attributable to somebody or something
The delay was due to bad weather.
4. payable: payable at once and on demand or at a stipulated time
Payment is due in 30 days.
5. proper and appropriate: meeting all the necessary requirements and thus proper and appropriate to the situation
after due consideration
6. owed: owed as a debt because of a right or an obligation
Our deep gratitude is due to all those who have helped over the last few months.


noun 
Definition:
 
somebody's right: something that somebody has deserved or is owed
I'll give you your due - you were absolutely right.


plural noun dues 
Definition:
 
membership fees: fees for membership in an organization


adverb 
Definition:
 
directly and exactly: in a direct exact way or course
due west
[13th century. Via Old French deu "owed" < Latin debitus< debere "owe"]

pay your dues to gain a privilege or position through hard work or pain

Spelling Note

See dew.

Word Usage

Some people object to the use of the phrase due to in sentences like these: The concert has been canceled due to circumstances beyond our control and The flight was delayed due to bad weather. Their objection is based on the fact that due is an adjective and should be used with a noun, as in The delay was due to bad weather, where due modifies delay. You can avoid using due to with a verb by replacing it with owing to or because of: The concert has been canceled owing to circumstances beyond our control. The game was postponed because of bad weather.
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
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