due to

preposition

Synonyms of due tonext
: as a result of : because of
… due to the complaints of uptight parents … he lost his job …—Herbert Gold
Using Due to: Usage Guide

The objection to due to as a preposition is only a continuation of disagreements that began in the 18th century over the proper uses of owing and due. Due to is as grammatically sound as owing to, which is frequently recommended in its place. It has been and is used by reputable writers and has been recognized as standard for decades. There is no solid reason to avoid due to.

Examples of due to in a Sentence

evening classes were cancelled due to heavy snow
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Montanans are suffocating due to an affordability crisis, rising fuel prices and an inexplicable war. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026 Hong Kong has traditionally been a financial and trading hub due to its geographic and economic proximity to China and historic cultural ties to the West, rather than a fashion capital like Shanghai, Seoul or Tokyo. — Kati Chitrakorn, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026 Part of that is due to colorism and their mixed-race identities, and part of that is due to their respective sounds. — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026 The new figures were disclosed days ahead of a Thursday Federal Election Commission filing deadline, when political committees are due to report their third-quarter finances. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for due to

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of due to was in 1897

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Due to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/due%20to. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

due to

preposition
: because of
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