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.
Part of that is due to a drawdown of two to three feet for work to be done, but the rainfall since hasn't been enough to refill it. — Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026 DeMarvion Overshown shows his worth When it was announced this week that linebacker DeMarvion Overshown would return from a five-game absence due to a hamstring injury, the reaction on social media was surprisingly negative. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026 Yet Dunlap is also somewhat insulated from that critique due to his years spent as the executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, a pro-2nd Amendment group that supports hunters and fishermen. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026 Refiners, incentivized by the ability to make incredible profits due to the shortage, are producing as much fuel as possible even though normally this is the time of year operations slow for routine repairs. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 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 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

due to

preposition
: because of
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