deliver
Americanverb (used with object)
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delivers,
present (3rd person singular)
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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.
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to give birth to.
She delivered twins at 4 a.m.
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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.
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to do or carry out as promised.
an ad agency known for delivering when a successful campaign is needed.
adjective
verb
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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
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to hand over, transfer, or surrender
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(often foll by from) to release or rescue (from captivity, harm, corruption, etc)
-
(also intr)
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to aid in the birth of (offspring)
-
to give birth to (offspring)
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(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
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to utter (an exclamation, noise, etc)
to deliver a cry of exultation
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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?
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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
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deliverabilitynoun
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deliverernoun
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misdeliververb (used with object)
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outdeliververb (used with object)
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predeliververb (used with object)
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deliverableadjective
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undeliveredadjective
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well-deliveredadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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deliversimple
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deliverssimple
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have deliveredperfect
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has deliveredperfect
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am deliveringprogressive
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are deliveringprogressive
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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
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The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 3
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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:
Still, for AI to deliver a longer-term boost to growth, building data centers won’t be enough.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
It added: "We are bringing in tougher regulation, stronger enforcement and greater accountability, so water companies deliver for customers and the environment."
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Netflix co-CEOs says the company is on track to deliver its full-year forecast.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
Future studies will investigate whether blocking PD-L2 is safe and can deliver meaningful health benefits in humans.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
Dyedka said it was nice to let Germogen have a rest, and also didn’t want to alert Papa’s camp superiors that he was using a magical hawk to deliver messages.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
Kim Kardashian is promoting a partnership between Skims and DoorDash, which now delivers the brand’s apparel from 29 of its stores.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
"It's crucial that the first phase of our talks under the Trade and Investment Consultations delivers tangible outcomes," Sefcovic said on X, posting a photo together with Wang.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
The new hour filmed in Washington, D.C., delivers surgically precise, dryly delivered jokes and personal stories about America falling apart from the heart of our nation’s capital.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Attenborough at 99 delivers 'greatest message he's ever told'
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
He delivers just enough to keep you believing.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
After three orderly decades as a journalist and gossip columnist, Jeannette Walls delivered a shock to readers with this account of her chaotic upbringing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
While Tropical Storm Rachel delivered some recent rain to Southern California, it largely missed L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
Each approach has potential drawbacks, including differences in how precisely the particles can be delivered and how long they remain inside the blood vessels.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
Ahead of the conference, the SNP announced it would launch a new independence campaign - including a national day of action, digital and broadcast adverts, and an independence survey delivered to almost 1.5m people.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
They both delivered vigorous nods with hopeful smiles.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
“December’s strategy and outlook update is an opportunity to set out the next phase of delivering a simpler, stronger and more valuable BP,” the company said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
In the IMF's worst-case scenario -- of AI not delivering promised productivity gains -- global GDP forecasts for 2028 would fall by as much as 0.4 percent.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Much was expected of the Dolphins this season and they are not delivering as promised as they were outclassed again by Joe Burrow's Cincinnati Bengals.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
Stepping into the band’s lead guitarist role was Nick Johnston, a forceful presence delivering crisp musical phrases that could be fittingly elegant or snarling.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Black fists in black gloves delivering black power two jabs at a time.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
