What does overdue mean?
Word: Overdue
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Overdue means not done, paid or returned by the time it was expected; late.
Synonyms: late, belated, delayed
Antonyms: punctual, on time
How do you spell overdue?
Syllables: o - ver - due
Tricky part: The last part is the due of due date, not dew or do.
Watch out for: overdew, overdu
Memory tip: Every library book has a due date, and overdue keeps that same due.
Overdue in a sentence
Example 1: My library book is two days overdue, so I must pay a small fine.
Example 2: The electricity bill is overdue.
Example 3: After these exams, a holiday is long overdue.
Fun Fact
A baby who has not arrived by the date doctors expected is also described as overdue.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Fusion
Which two parts join to make the word described?
______ means late, after the time when something was expected. 1. over 2. ovre 3. due 4. after 5. ovar 6. under
a) 6 and 3
b) 1 and 3
c) 2 and 3
d) 5 and 3
Show answer
b) 1 and 3. Over is spelt er; ovre and ovar are slips, and underdue is not a word.
Word Tally
Count 1 mark for each misspelt word. How many marks in all?
overdue, overwelm, overboard, overcast, overlaped
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
Show answer
b) 2. Overwhelm needs its h, and overlapped needs a double p.
Word Puzzle
Match the words in the two lists:
1. overdue 2. shallow 3. scarce a. deep b. plentiful c. early
a) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
b) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
Show answer
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b. An overdue train is the opposite of early, a shallow pond of deep, and scarce food of plentiful.
Sound Check
In which word is 'ue' pronounced differently?
a) overdue
b) guess
c) true
d) glue
Show answer
b) guess. In guess the u is silent and the e is short, as in less; the other three end in an oo sound.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Ravi's homework is overdue. What should he do?
a) hand it in as soon as he can
b) wait until next month
c) start a different one
d) throw it away
Show answer
a) hand it in as soon as he can
2. Which bill is overdue?
a) one that is due next month
b) one that has not been sent yet
c) one paid a day early
d) one that should have been paid last week
Show answer
d) one that should have been paid last week
