significantly overdue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significantly overdue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to describe that something has taken an exceptionally long time to happen or arrive. For example, "The new book from the author was significantly overdue, having been delayed by three years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

One is that it feels significantly overdue for you to have a solo exhibition at a New York museum.

The New York Times

The steep markdown comes when a loan is significantly overdue, as many of Corinthian's private loans were: more than 60% of students with a Genesis loan, according to the CFPB suit, defaulted on that loan in within three years).

The Guardian

As discussed later, more effective approaches for protecting the health of children are needed if not significantly overdue (19).

Emerging Health Threats Journal

While many women may be brought to regular on time screening with minimal reminders, women who are significantly overdue for screening or habitually non-compliant need more than reminders.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"This would have significantly delayed long overdue improvements to children's heart services for months.

BBC

The endeavour is controversial because its deployment is long overdue and significantly over-budget.

BBC

Three of the eleven attitudinal barriers were significantly associated with being overdue among BAME women (see Table 4): I'm not sexually active so I do not need to go for a smear test, I do not need a smear test if I do not have any symptoms and it is difficult to get an appointment that fits in with work or family commitments.

British Journal of Cancer

3 While coverage of immunisation history taking could be improved, for example, by making it a required part of admission or discharge documentation, this alone is unlikely to significantly improve detection of those overdue because of the low sensitivity of the history.

BMJ Open

Learners are currently forbidden to drive on motorways, but in a long-overdue move that could help significantly improve road safety, all that could be about to change.

Independent

Micron Electronics muei put on a nice little comeback under Joel Kocher last year, significantly increasing revenue and implementing a long-overdue restructuring.

Forbes

With handhelds having significantly more memory than the original PalmPilot, the upgrade to the PIM was long overdue.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significantly overdue", ensure the context clearly establishes what is past its expected time. Provide specific details or examples to illustrate the extent of the delay.

Common error

Avoid using "significantly overdue" in vague contexts where the expected timeframe is not explicitly stated. For instance, instead of saying "The project is significantly overdue", specify "The project, initially slated for completion in June, is significantly overdue."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significantly overdue" functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "overdue". Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing the degree to which something has exceeded its expected timeframe.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "significantly overdue" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to highlight a considerable delay or lateness. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to emphasize that something is notably past its expected timeframe. While not overly common, it finds its usage primarily in News & Media and Science contexts, maintaining a neutral tone. For more nuanced expressions, consider alternatives such as ""considerably delayed"" or ""seriously delayed"". Remember to use "significantly overdue" in contexts where the expected timeframe is explicitly stated for maximum clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seriously delayed

Similar to "significantly delayed" but can imply negative consequences from the delay.

substantially delayed

A more formal alternative that emphasizes the large extent of the delay.

considerably delayed

Focuses more on the action of delaying rather than the state of being past the due date.

excessively late

Highlights the lateness of the task or event.

long past deadline

Emphasizes exceeding the agreed-upon timeframe.

appreciably behind schedule

Emphasizes the gap between the current state and the planned timeline.

well beyond expected

Highlights the degree to which something has exceeded expectations for timeliness.

markedly behind time

Focuses on the marked difference between the expected and actual timing.

noticeably tardy

A more subtle and less forceful way of expressing lateness.

considerably past its prime

Implies that something has not only been delayed, but that its best days are gone.

FAQs

How can I use "significantly overdue" in a sentence?

You can use "significantly overdue" to describe something that is very late or has exceeded its expected time by a considerable margin. For example, "The delivery of the equipment is "significantly overdue" and impacting our project timeline."

What are some alternatives to "significantly overdue"?

Alternatives include "considerably delayed", "long past deadline", or "seriously delayed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "significantly overdue" or "long overdue"?

Both ""significantly overdue"" and "long overdue" are acceptable, but "significantly overdue" emphasizes the degree of lateness more strongly. "Long overdue" simply indicates that something should have happened some time ago.

What's the difference between "significantly delayed" and "significantly overdue"?

"Significantly delayed" refers to the act of postponing something, while ""significantly overdue"" describes something that has already passed its expected completion or arrival time. You might say, "The project was significantly delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, and is now significantly overdue."