Phrase guide

in due course

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adv

Meaning 1

When the time is right; presently; eventually.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The kitchen will be painted in due course.
  • March 14, 2018, Roger Penrose writing in The Guardian, Mind over matter': Stephen Hawking – obituary [...] he began to set his sights on some of the most fundamental questions concerning the physical nature of the universe. In due course, he would achieve extraordinary successes against the severest physical disabilities.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: all in good time, in due time, in good time, when the time comes, time is ripe

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

at the appropriate time

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • we'll get to this question in due course

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: in due season, in good time, in due time, when the time comes

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 在適當的時候 /在适当的时候 (zài shìdàng de shíhou) — when the time is right
  • Dutch: te zijner tijd — when the time is right
  • Esperanto: post iom da tempo — when the time is right
  • Finnish: aikanaan — when the time is right
  • French: au moment voulu — when the time is right
  • French: en temps voulu — when the time is right
  • French: le moment venu — when the time is right
  • French: en temps utile — when the time is right
  • French: en temps et en heure — when the time is right
  • Māori: nāwai rā — when the time is right
  • Māori: nāwai nāwai — when the time is right
  • Polish: we właściwym czasie — when the time is right
  • Russian: в своё вре́мя (v svojó vrémja) — when the time is right
  • Russian: до́лжным о́бразом (dólžnym óbrazom) — when the time is right
  • Russian: своевре́менно (svojevrémenno) — when the time is right
  • Slovak: zavčasu — when the time is right
  • Slovak: zavčas — when the time is right
  • Slovak: včasne — when the time is right
  • Swedish: i sinom tid — when the time is right