seriously overdue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seriously overdue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is significantly late or past its expected deadline. Example: "The report is seriously overdue, and we need to submit it by the end of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Her appointment as first-ever female conductor of the Last Prom seemed seriously overdue.

Independent

After "The Whole Town's Talking" (a film seriously overdue on DVD), Cohn rushed his new star into five more films in 1935.

The New York Times

But J. P. Morgan -- which said last week that payment on $587 million of its loans, mainly in Asia, was seriously overdue -- has obvious problems.

The New York Times

The manufacturing industry is seriously overdue for an update... the QWERTY keyboard was designed 100 years ago to make you type slower... that's a good start".

The Guardian - Tech

The manufacturing industry is seriously overdue for an update... the QWERTY keyboard was designed 100 years ago to make you type slower... that's a good start". Jon Snow comes over: "Cern... completely funded by governments.

The Guardian - Tech

But, after four successive runners-up medals in finals (in the 2010 CB40 final to Warwickshire, as well as three successive Twenty20 final defeats), not to mention last summer's County Championship near miss, Somerset are now seriously overdue their first silverware in six years.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Seriously delinquent mortgages — those that are three months overdue or more — fell during the third quarter to 8.70 percent of all loans, from 9.11 percent in the second quarter, the bankers' group said.

The New York Times

During his segment, Oliver pointed out that Americans owe about $12tn in debt and that about $436bn is seriously delinquent, meaning it's more than three months overdue.

The Guardian

With all this in mind, volcanologists will never seriously use the term "overdue". This, arguably, is especially true for those pesky supervolcanoes.

Forbes

By bringing in a collection agency, libraries hope that patrons will take overdue fines more seriously.

The New York Times

A shakeout in the market seemed long overdue, so how seriously should we take the recent declines?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when using "seriously overdue"; a more formal setting might benefit from alternatives like "substantially late."

Common error

Avoid using "seriously overdue" for minor delays. The phrase implies a significant breach of expectation or deadline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seriously overdue" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a state of significant delay beyond a deadline or expected time. Ludwig confirms its usability. For example, a loan can be "seriously overdue".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Tech

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seriously overdue" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase indicating a significant delay. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is most commonly found in News & Media contexts. While generally acceptable, more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "substantially late". This phrase communicates a sense of urgency or concern about something being significantly past its expected time. Keep in mind that the word means something is already too late, so it's better avoid using it for little things, if you do, you may be overstating the facts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long past due

Emphasizes the extended duration beyond the deadline.

well overdue

Indicates that something should have happened a while ago.

considerably delayed

Highlights the significant extent of the delay.

substantially late

Focuses on the degree of lateness.

significantly delayed

Similar to "considerably delayed", but emphasizes importance.

badly delayed

Indicates the delay has caused negative effects.

way behind schedule

Emphasizes a deviation from the planned timeline.

critically behind

Highlights the severe consequences of being overdue.

far behind time

Simple way of saying something that has been left on a side.

long in coming

More about the fact that the overdue occurrence finally happens.

FAQs

What does "seriously overdue" mean?

The phrase "seriously overdue" means that something is significantly delayed or past its expected deadline. It implies that the delay is causing concern or has negative consequences.

What can I say instead of "seriously overdue"?

You can use alternatives like "long past due", "well overdue", or "considerably delayed" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "seriously overdue" in formal writing?

While "seriously overdue" is generally acceptable, in very formal writing, you might consider using alternatives such as "substantially late" or "significantly delayed", as these phrases might sound more professional.

Can "seriously overdue" be used for both tangible items and abstract concepts?

Yes, "seriously overdue" can be used to describe both tangible items (e.g., "The payment is seriously overdue") and abstract concepts (e.g., "The manufacturing industry is seriously overdue for an update").