deliver

[ dih-liv-er ]

verb (used with object)

1. to carry and turn over (letters, goods, etc.) to the intended recipient or recipients:

   to deliver mail;

   to deliver a package.

   Synonyms: yield, cede, transfer

2. to give into another's possession or keeping; surrender:

   to deliver a prisoner to the police;

   to deliver a bond.

3. to bring (votes) to the support of a candidate or a cause.
4. to give forth in words; utter or pronounce:

   to deliver a verdict;

   to deliver a speech.

   Synonyms: publish, proclaim, announce, communicate

5. to give forth or emit:

   The oil well delivers 500 barrels a day.

6. to strike or throw:

   to deliver a blow.

7. to set free or liberate:

   The Israelites were delivered from bondage.

   Synonyms: release, emancipate

   Antonyms: confine

8. to release or save:

   Deliver me from such tiresome people!

   Synonyms: rescue, redeem

9. to assist (a female) in bringing forth young:

   The doctor delivered her of twins.

10. to assist at the birth of:

    The doctor delivered the baby.

11. to give birth to:

    She delivered twins at 4 a.m.

12. to disburden (oneself ) of thoughts, opinions, etc.
13. to make known; assert.

verb (used without object)

1. to give birth.
2. to provide a delivery service for goods and products:

   The store delivers free of charge.

3. to do or carry out as promised:

   an ad agency known for delivering when a successful campaign is needed.

adjective

1. Archaic. agile; quick.

deliver

/ dɪˈlɪvə /

verb

1. 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

2. often foll byover or up to hand over, transfer, or surrender
3. often foll by from to release or rescue (from captivity, harm, corruption, etc)
4. also intr
   1. to aid in the birth of (offspring)
   2. to give birth to (offspring)
   3. usually foll by of to aid or assist (a female) in the birth (of offspring)
   4. passivefoll byof to give birth (to offspring)
5. to utter or present (a speech, oration, idea, etc)
6. See deliver
   deliver the goods See deliver
7. to utter (an exclamation, noise, etc)

   to deliver a cry of exultation

8. to discharge or release (something, such as a blow or shot) suddenly
9. to cause (voters, constituencies, etc) to support a given candidate, cause, etc

   can you deliver the Bronx?

10. deliver oneself of
    deliver oneself of to speak with deliberation or at length

    to deliver oneself of a speech

11. deliver the goods informal.
    deliver the goods to produce or perform something promised or expected

Derived Forms

• deˌliveraˈbility, noun
• deˈliverer, noun
• deˈliverable, adjective

Other Words From

• de·liver·er noun
• misde·liver verb (used with object)
• outde·liver verb (used with object)
• prede·liver verb (used with object)
• unde·livered adjective
• well-de·livered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deliver¹

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” ( liberate )

Word History and Origins

Origin of deliver¹

C13: from Old French delivrer, from Late Latin dēlīberāre to set free, from Latin de- + līberāre to free

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with deliver , also see signed, sealed, and delivered .

Example Sentences

In a different case Thursday, Pennsylvania’s highest court delivered a separate victory to Democrats, ruling in their favor on a number of mail-voting rules.

From Washington Post

As a result, advertisers will be able to set media plans to deliver a minimum number of sales as opposed to traditional figures like the number of people reached.

From Digiday

If you’re worried about cutting it close, most states let you deliver your ballot to the local election office instead of mailing it.

From ProPublica

While not as established as traditional sports in the minds of many marketers, esports does deliver reach.

From Digiday

The situation would be akin to aspects of the so-called gig economy, in which workers juggle multiple jobs of driving people around for Uber and then delivering dinners for DoorDash.

From Fortune

He could deliver a quick, effective speech, or hold a proper press conference.

From The Daily Beast

So working with the militants in order to deliver aid “becomes a requirement,” she said.

From The Daily Beast

Koenig proceeds to deliver her deeply conflicted, sorta-kinda support for Adnan.

From The Daily Beast

Despite general good intentions, however, even good physicians can deliver care that falls short.

From The Daily Beast

They were there to put on a show and deliver a message: behold, we are a technological power with which to be reckoned!

From The Daily Beast

I, therefore, deliver it as a maxim, that whoever desires the character of a proud man ought to conceal his vanity.

From Project Gutenberg

Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall deliver more than they.

From Project Gutenberg

She continued to deliver herself upon a hundred topics, and it hardly matters where we take her up.

From Project Gutenberg

By bad luck d'Amade was away, up in the front trenches, and I could not well deliver myself to des Coigns.

From Project Gutenberg

And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will protect it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bear
• bring
• convey
• distribute
• drop
• give
• hand
• hand over
• pass
• transport