overdue

overdue — adjective

1. still unpaid, unfinished, unreturned, or late after the time set for it.

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

still unpaid, unfinished, unreturned, or late after the time set for it.

Example

The library book is overdue, so Nina paid the fine online.

collocation: overdue library book / pay a fine

Our rent was overdue again, and the landlord knocked after dinner.

Common collocations
  • overdue bill
  • overdue payment
  • overdue rent
  • overdue report
  • overdue library book
Synonyms
  • late

    the broad everyday word for something happening after the expected time

  • unpaid

    only fits money that has not been paid yet

  • outstanding

    more formal, especially for money owed or work still unfinished

  • delayed

    focuses on time being pushed back, especially for transport or plans

Antonyms
  • on time

    arriving or being completed by the expected time

  • paid

    used when the overdue item is money or a bill

  • up to date

    used for work, records, or payments that are current

Grammar Patterns

be overdue

be overdue by + period of time

overdue + noun

Usage Note

Common with bills, rent, payments, books, reports, and checks. It also appears after 'be' for expected events or arrivals, but for a small everyday delay, 'late' is often more natural than 'overdue'.

Common Mistakes

I am overdue my homework.
My homework is overdue.
'overdue' usually describes the work, bill, or item, not the person who owes it.
The bus is overdue for ten minutes.
The bus is ten minutes late.
for a short everyday delay, 'late' is the more natural choice.

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Overdue' is best when a payment, piece of work, return, or expected event has gone past its proper time. 'Late' is the broad everyday word and can describe people, buses, or homework without stressing a fixed deadline. 'Unpaid' works only for money, so an unpaid bill can be overdue, but an overdue report is not unpaid. 'Outstanding' is more formal and often appears in business English for money still owed or tasks still unfinished. 'Delayed' focuses on time being pushed back, especially for travel or plans, and does not always suggest duty or fault. A child can be late for school, a bill can be overdue, money can stay outstanding, and a train can be delayed.

overdue ↗late ↗unpaid ↗outstanding ↗delayed

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • badly overdue
  • long overdue

Phrases

  • be overdue
  • be long overdue
  • return an overdue book

Prepositions

  • overdue by

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Overdue was formed in English from over-, meaning 'beyond', and due. The second part came into English through Old French from Latin debitus, meaning 'owed'. The compound kept that idea of something owed or expected, and added the sense that the proper time has already passed.