deliver
Americanverb (used with object)
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delivers,
present (3rd person singular)
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delivered,
past participle, past
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delivering
present participle
-
to carry and turn over (letters, goods, etc.) to the intended recipient or recipients.
to deliver mail;
to deliver a package.
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to give into another's possession or keeping; surrender.
to deliver a prisoner to the police;
to deliver a bond.
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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
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to give forth or emit.
The oil well delivers 500 barrels a day.
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to strike or throw.
to deliver a blow.
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to set free or liberate.
The Israelites were delivered from bondage.
- Synonyms:
- release, emancipate
- Antonyms:
- confine
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to release or save.
Deliver me from such tiresome people!
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to assist (a female) in bringing forth young.
The doctor delivered her of twins.
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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.
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to make known; assert.
verb (used without object)
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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)
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(also intr)
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to aid in the birth of (offspring)
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to give birth to (offspring)
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(usually foll by of) to aid or assist (a female) in the birth (of offspring)
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to give birth (to offspring)
-
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to utter or present (a speech, oration, idea, etc)
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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
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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
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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
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have been deliveringperfect progressive
-
has been deliveringperfect progressive
Past
-
deliveredsimple
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had deliveredperfect
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was deliveringprogressive
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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
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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:
Greengrass surrounds Garfield with actors who deliver bigger performances, like Jarvis as the brutish but shrewd Tyler, and Bell as the fervent Ball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
“We now expect the ECB to deliver one further 25 basis point rate hike at its December meeting before pausing.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Computers and smartphones could potentially deliver greater performance while consuming less electricity.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
“We remain laser focused on our partnership with VA to deliver the housing, services, and community our veterans deserve, in the Town Center and across the neighborhood,“ it said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Ama took us here to find the legendary hero Benefo, just so he could betray us and deliver us to Nansi with same-day shipping.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
When those two instincts collide, it’s bound to be complex and conflicting, and Greengrass delivers that with a boots-on-the-ground style.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
The fifth episode’s title, “Riches of Embarrassment,” is derived from a halftime rallying speech Ted delivers to soften the sting of Alice calling their first-half performance embarrassing.
From Salon ● Sep. 10, 2026
Trump delivers Wednesday's keynote and returns for Thursday's finale after Vice President JD Vance speaks.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
All will be forgiven if Allen delivers, reverses all those decades of bad juju and hoists the Lombardi hood ornament into the sky.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
I must still look perplexed because Gale delivers the next line very slowly.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
The U.S. onshore oil and gas business delivered around 545,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day in the second quarter of the year, making a significant contribution to BP’s overall production.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
In February 2025 Mr. Vance met with Ms. Weidel, then delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference in which he inveighed against political firewalls, using that word to needle his German hosts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
"What I would expect is that patients will... increasingly see AI as part of the way that normal NHS healthcare is delivered," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Everything is diesel: The truck that delivered your car.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
In July 1945, the Indy, as she was called, completed one of the most secret missions of World War II. She delivered critical parts of the world’s first atomic bomb to the island of Tinian.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
“It’s answering the bear case — that capex is finally delivering return on investment capital,” Chubb said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Harris had a panic attack while delivering a newscast on ABC’s “Good Morning America” in 2004.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
She added: "What matters now is what happens next and delivering on our promise to better support the education system to raise standards."
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
Still, Gervais remained undeterred, doubling and tripling down on his comedy and delivering a since-viral “I don’t care” monologue during his final hosting stint.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
I walked around Stagecoach Pass all morning, trying to be useful, running errands for anyone and everyone, delivering messages, and making phone calls.
From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling
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.
