delivery
Americannoun
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the carrying and turning over of letters, goods, etc., to a designated recipient or recipients.
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a giving up or handing over; surrender.
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the utterance or enunciation of words.
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vocal and bodily behavior during the presentation of a speech.
a speaker's fine delivery.
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the act or manner of giving or sending forth.
the pitcher's fine delivery of the ball.
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the state of being delivered of or giving birth to a child; parturition.
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something delivered.
The delivery is late today.
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Commerce. a shipment of goods from the seller to the buyer.
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Law. a formal act performed to make a transfer of property legally effective.
a delivery of deed.
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Also called delivery end. Printing. the part of a printing press where the paper emerges in printed form.
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Archaic. release or rescue; liberation; deliverance.
noun
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the act of delivering or distributing goods, mail, etc
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something that is delivered
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( as modifier )
a delivery service
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the act of giving birth to a child
she had an easy delivery
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manner or style of utterance, esp in public speaking or recitation
the chairman had a clear delivery
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the act of giving or transferring or the state of being given or transferred
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the act of rescuing or state of being rescued; liberation
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sport
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the act or manner of bowling or throwing a ball
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the ball so delivered
a fast delivery
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an actual or symbolic handing over of property, a deed, etc
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the discharge rate of a compressor or pump
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(in South Africa) the supply of basic services to communities deprived under apartheid
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of delivery
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English delyvere, delyvery, from Anglo-French delivrée, noun use of feminine past participle of delivrer “to deliver,” with suffix assimilated to -ery; see deliver
Explanation
When you make a delivery, you bring something somewhere. A delivery can be in the form of something physical, as when you receive a delivery in the mail, or verbal, as in the delivery of a speech or address. Delivery once could only mean "the action of handing something to another," but it has a long history of being applied in other ways. The idea of childbirth as being a delivery came about in the 1570's, while the term was applied to a punch in the 1580's, and to throwing a ball in 1702. A verbal delivery is the manner in which a speech is presented. As a comedian, you know the importance of a good delivery — timing the punchline just right.
Vocabulary lists containing delivery
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 1
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The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 1
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The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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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:
Now the delivery provider is adding a new mode of transport: air.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
DoorDash has offered drone delivery in some areas of the U.S. for the past four years through partnerships with drone operators such as Wing, a unit of Alphabet, and Flytrex.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
It added 6.9% of its sales now come from home delivery.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
So I ran around the back of the shop then Uber sent me a message asking me to complete my delivery.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
“Richard Harris was perfectly cast. Pure Dumbledore. Demeanor, appearance, delivery, everything.”
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Airbus’s procurement struggles in recent years have weighed on aircraft manufacturing and, consequently, deliveries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
"Everybody gives me tips on my deliveries and says hello, greeting me with smiley faces," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
A De Havilland spokesperson wouldn't be drawn on the exact month of deliveries, saying only that they were "in line with forecasts."
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
There were whistles, Signal chats, legal observers, carpools, rent funds, and grocery deliveries.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
He said, “Never seen anyone go in or come out. Just a lot of deliveries and a lot of trash.”
From "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer
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.
