Late or delayed (7) Crossword Clue
Answer: OVERDUE (7 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Late or delayed" with 7 letters is "OVERDUE".Overdue means something that is late or delayed beyond the expected or required time. It is commonly used for tasks, payments, or returns that should have been completed earlier but have been postponed, indicating they are now past their deadline or due date.
Why “Overdue” Fits
The clue asks for a single adjective (7 letters) meaning “late or delayed.” The answer, OVERDUE, fits exactly:
- Late or delayed: Overdue is the standard word for something that has not happened or been done by the expected or required time—bills, library books, trains, reports, etc.—so it directly matches both “late” and “delayed.”
- Direct match: With seven letters, overdue fits the enumeration (7) perfectly and is the most natural, idiomatic choice for this definition.
“Overdue” is widely used in everyday, financial, and official contexts:
Origin and usage:
- Formed from “over” (beyond) and “due” (owed or expected at a certain time), literally meaning “beyond the time due.”
- Used for deadlines and schedules: payments, arrivals, services, and tasks.
Examples:
- “The train is overdue by twenty minutes.”
- “Her library books are long overdue.”
- “The company’s apology was overdue but welcome.”
- In quick crosswords, clues like “Late or delayed (7)”:
- Are classic “straight definition” clues—no wordplay, just a clean synonym.
- Alternatives such as “tardy” (5) or “behind” (6) don’t match the letter count, leaving OVERDUE as the precise fit for seven letters.
- Because “overdue” is highly common and exactly expresses “late or delayed,” it’s a textbook answer for this clue.
