deliver
Americanverb (used with object)
-
delivers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
delivered,
past participle, past
-
delivering
present participle
-
to carry and turn over (letters, goods, etc.) to the intended recipient or recipients.
to deliver mail;
to deliver a package.
-
to give into another's possession or keeping; surrender.
to deliver a prisoner to the police;
to deliver a bond.
-
to bring (votes) to the support of a candidate or a cause.
-
to give forth in words; utter or pronounce.
to deliver a verdict;
to deliver a speech.
- Synonyms:
- publish, proclaim, announce, communicate
-
to give forth or emit.
The oil well delivers 500 barrels a day.
-
to strike or throw.
to deliver a blow.
-
to set free or liberate.
The Israelites were delivered from bondage.
- Synonyms:
- release, emancipate
- Antonyms:
- confine
-
to release or save.
Deliver me from such tiresome people!
-
to assist (a female) in bringing forth young.
The doctor delivered her of twins.
-
to assist at the birth of.
The doctor delivered the baby.
-
to give birth to.
She delivered twins at 4 a.m.
-
to disburden (oneself ) of thoughts, opinions, etc.
-
to make known; assert.
verb (used without object)
-
delivers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
delivered,
past participle, past
-
delivering
present participle
-
to give birth.
-
to provide a delivery service for goods and products.
The store delivers free of charge.
-
to do or carry out as promised.
an ad agency known for delivering when a successful campaign is needed.
adjective
verb
-
to carry (goods, etc) to a destination, esp to carry and distribute (goods, mail, etc) to several places
to deliver letters
our local butcher delivers
-
to hand over, transfer, or surrender
-
(often foll by from) to release or rescue (from captivity, harm, corruption, etc)
-
(also intr)
-
to aid in the birth of (offspring)
-
to give birth to (offspring)
-
(usually foll by of) to aid or assist (a female) in the birth (of offspring)
-
to give birth (to offspring)
-
-
to utter or present (a speech, oration, idea, etc)
-
deliver the goods See deliver
-
to utter (an exclamation, noise, etc)
to deliver a cry of exultation
-
to discharge or release (something, such as a blow or shot) suddenly
-
to cause (voters, constituencies, etc) to support a given candidate, cause, etc
can you deliver the Bronx?
-
to speak with deliberation or at length
to deliver oneself of a speech
-
informal to produce or perform something promised or expected
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
deliverabilitynoun
-
deliverernoun
-
misdeliververb (used with object)
-
outdeliververb (used with object)
-
predeliververb (used with object)
-
deliverableadjective
-
undeliveredadjective
-
well-deliveredadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
deliversimple
-
deliverssimple
-
have deliveredperfect
-
has deliveredperfect
-
am deliveringprogressive
-
are deliveringprogressive
-
is deliveringprogressive
-
have been deliveringperfect progressive
-
has been deliveringperfect progressive
Past
-
deliveredsimple
-
had deliveredperfect
-
was deliveringprogressive
-
were deliveringprogressive
-
had been deliveringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of deliver
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English delivren, from Old French delivrer, from Late Latin dēlīberāre “to set free,” from dē- de- + līberāre “to free” ( see liberate)
Explanation
Whether you deliver a package, a baby, or a promise, you're bringing or carrying out something that was expected. The Post Office and UPS deliver packages, but a doctor helps deliver a baby: in that case, the doctor is helping the baby get born safely. If you promise to get an A and then you do, you delivered on your promise. Religious people ask God to deliver them from sin. Politicians often have to deliver — meaning give — speeches. In just about every case, deliver refers to something positive that's being moved, fulfilled, rescued, or carried out.
Vocabulary lists containing deliver
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A news release from Archer said the deal “positions Archer to deliver an end-to-end physical AI platform across commercial aerospace, defense and air traffic management that can lead the next generation of aviation.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
An engineering director at Google said four years ago that AI would deliver a four-day work week by 2025, external.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Instead, capital is going toward updating existing stores with new technology, for one, and expanding a service in which Tractor Supply employees deliver items to customers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
The measurement reflects how efficiently the heart, lungs, and muscles work together to deliver and use oxygen.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026
And it was the place chosen by German general Erich von Falkenhayn to deliver a shattering blow to the French army and break France’s will to fight.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
But raw, unadulterated nature delivers both sorrow and joy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
The report delivers a stark warning, too: "AI could widen gaps between countries, increase inequality within them, concentrate market power, weaken trust in public institutions, and create new risks for safety, rights, and social cohesion."
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
The government has not yet decided the exact portion of taxes mayors will be given, with more details to be announced when Chancellor John Healey delivers his first budget in the autumn.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Warsh said the Fed will be judged on whether it delivers 2% inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
“Well. . . You seen that boy who delivers the afternoon paper? They got to arguing over whether he has a sweetheart. You know how girls can be.”
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
Until recently, the hefty returns the funds delivered made them one of the hottest flavors on Wall Street.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Embraer delivered 65 aircraft during the second quarter, up from 61 a year earlier.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
"Both flights have now landed at Dalaman but TUI can still not tell us at what point they will be delivered to our hotel."
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
According to the researchers, it is the first study to comprehensively measure the biological effects of several mind and body practices delivered together during a short, intensive program.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
They both delivered vigorous nods with hopeful smiles.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
Big-name American consumer brands from Kraft Heinz to Colgate-Palmolive CL 0.29%increase; up pointing triangle are delivering solid growth lately—outside the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Clothes in this price range are selling surprisingly well because they are delivering “style, newness and quality” at a sweet spot that isn’t quite luxury-level pricing, according to Kristen Classi-Zummo, apparel-industry analyst at Circana.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
“Central bank independence is critical for delivering price stability and keeping inflation expectations well anchored,” said analysts Marco Casiraghi and Gang Lyu of Evercore ISI.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
Just as importantly, it would need a dependable system for delivering the materials those builders require.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026
So before delivering the ultimatum, Austria obtained a pledge of support from its ally, Germany, in the event of a war.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
