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)
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delivered,
past participle, past
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delivering
present participle
-
to give birth.
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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
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has been deliveringperfect progressive
Past
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deliveredsimple
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had deliveredperfect
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was deliveringprogressive
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were deliveringprogressive
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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:
“That’s why the upside in stocks eventually hinges upon stocks’ ability to deliver on increasingly rosy earnings expectations — not just for the next quarter or two, but for the quarters to come.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
It seems like McKinley wants to deliver a crushing blow, but then feints at the last minute, opting for a more optimistic kind of fantasy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
He's a courier who agrees to deliver a package to a hospital in Raccoon City - a key location from the games.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Let’s make the effort to ensure that these elections are fair, and that they deliver a clear verdict.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
Armies still relied on signal lamps and carrier pigeons to deliver messages that could mean the difference between life and death.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
There’s smart devices such as Eight Sleep, known for its mattress sleep pod system, which delivers slumberers with a “sleep fitness” score.
From The Wall Street Journal ● 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
What Howrey delivers with “Body Language” is a novel that covers all that ground while keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, alternately howling with laughter, holding their breath awaiting resolution, and weeping.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
The officer, a colonel named Babcock, delivers a letter into Lee’s hands.
From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly
A decisive moment came when Kudus thought he had levelled on the hour, but Robertson was ruled just offside having delivered the cross.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
But they noted that the company has “time & again delivered unexpected break-out hits.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
For “Swing Time” they also delivered “A Fine Romance,” “Pick Yourself Up” and “Never Gonna Dance.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
What follows is some of the most riveting and distressing testimony ever delivered in such a setting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
His tales had a bite and a message and could be delivered over and over again.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
State of Fashion report, as San Francisco’s RealReal, Redwood City’s Poshmark, Oakland’s ThredUp and others used Silicon Valley innovation to streamline listing, finding and delivering secondhand products.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
The cash from the Welsh government will be split between the 22 local authorities, with those in rural areas getting a premium due to "the added challenges" of delivering support to more sparsely populated regions.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Rivian began delivering its R2 SUV to customers during the second quarter and expects to deliver a total of between 62,000 and 67,000 vehicles this year.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
The 2026 Trailseeker blends Subaru’s rugged styling with Toyota’s EV architecture, delivering impressive acceleration and ride quality but less-than-stellar range and charging capacity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
He felt he’d complied with the wishes of the Soviets by making the apology to Spassky, writing it by hand and personally delivering it, and he’d just agreed to go along with Spassky’s postponement.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
