overdue

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "overdue" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a situation where something should have occurred but did not occur within the expected time frame. For example, "The library book was overdue for two weeks, so I had to pay a fine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Opinion

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In Britain, it looks set to begin a conversation which has been long overdue, addressing directly the question of what the surveillance agencies can and can't do.

The Guardian - Tech

The pledge not to lock up pregnant women and the victims of trafficking and sexual abuse is also long overdue.

The Guardian

It says a lot about Poehler's unflagging brilliance that her long overdue win for Best Actress in a Comedy TV Series wasn't even the best Poehler moment of the night.

The Guardian - Film

Udinese's captain Antonio Di Natale's second-half penalty denied Atalanta their first away win since 5 October – the Bergamaschi looked to be heading for a long overdue success when Davide Brivio gave them a 24th-minute lead at the Stadio Friuli.

The Guardian - Sport

Beyond this that he is in his own way a victim of circumstance, an under-finished finisher who simply needs a little overdue affectionate maintenance.

The Guardian - Sport

A vote on EU membership is long overdue.

The Guardian - Opinion

He could co-ordinate an overdue marketing effort to boost awareness of libraries among the public.

The Guardian - Books

The Client shall pay, on demand, interest on all amounts which are overdue for more than 30 days, such interest to be calculated from the day after the date when payment fell due to the date of actual payment at the rate of 4 per cent above the base rate of the Bank of England from time to time.

The Guardian

"The McDonald's board is long overdue for an overhaul.

The Guardian - Business

Greening said passengers and taxpayers were picking up the tab for the "costly efficiency gap" and that reform was long overdue.

The Guardian

But Professor Allen Cheng, the director of the infection prevention project at Alfred Health, described the strategy as "long overdue".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overdue" to clearly communicate that a deadline has passed or something is not happening on time. Be specific about the nature and impact of the delay to provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "overdue" when you simply mean "due". "Due" indicates when something is expected, while "overdue" indicates it's already past the expected time.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "overdue" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that something is past its expected or scheduled time. Ludwig confirms this usage with numerous examples where "overdue" describes various nouns like "payments", "books", or "actions".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Opinion

5%

Books

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "overdue" is used to indicate that something is past its expected time or deadline. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical standing and frequent use across a broad spectrum of contexts, including news, business, and general conversation. When using "overdue", make sure to check that the deadline has indeed passed. Related terms include "past deadline", "late", and "delinquent", but the appropriate choice will depend on the specific context. Remember that "overdue" carries a connotation of something not happening on time, which may need attention or action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

past deadline

Focuses specifically on exceeding an agreed-upon time limit.

late

A more general term indicating that something is not on time.

delinquent

Often used in financial contexts to describe payments that are not made on time.

behind schedule

Indicates that a task or project is not progressing as planned.

tardy

Suggests a slight delay, often used in formal contexts.

delayed

A neutral term for something that has been postponed.

outstanding

Implies that something is pending and has not yet been resolved, though not necessarily late.

remiss

Indicates negligence or a failure to fulfill a duty within the expected timeframe.

long awaited

Emphasizes the anticipation surrounding an event that has been delayed.

long in coming

Similar to long awaited, but with a stronger emphasis on the duration of the delay.

FAQs

How can I use "overdue" in a sentence?

You can use "overdue" to describe tasks, payments, or actions that have passed their deadline. For example, "The payment is now "past due"", or "The library book is "late" and accruing fines".

What's a more formal way to say "overdue"?

In formal contexts, consider using "delinquent" especially when referring to payments or obligations. "Outstanding" can also work, though it doesn't explicitly imply lateness.

Is it correct to say something is "long overdue"?

Yes, "long overdue" is a common and acceptable expression that emphasizes that something should have happened a while ago and has been delayed significantly. It suggests the action or event is especially "long awaited".

What's the difference between "due" and "overdue"?

"Due" indicates the expected or scheduled time for something, while "overdue" means that the expected time has already passed. Something can be "callable" or "payable" on the due date; after that, it becomes overdue.