deliver

verb

de·​liv·​er di-ˈli-vər 

dē-

delivered; delivering di-ˈli-v(ə-)riŋ 

dē-

; delivers

transitive verb

1

: to set free

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

—Matthew 6:13 (King James Version)

2

a

: to take and hand over to or leave for another : convey

deliver a package

b

: hand over, surrender

delivered the prisoners to the sheriff

delivered themselves over to God

c

: to send, provide, or make accessible to someone electronically

deliver an email/text message

Have the information delivered to you via e-mail, cell phone, pager, instant messaging, or just on a Web page that you set up.

—Irene B. McDermott

When Netflix entered the European market in 2012, some national telecom companies forced it to pay "tolls" to deliver content to customers.

—Liz Alderman and Amie Tsang

3

a(1)

: to assist (a pregnant female) in giving birth

The doctor delivered several women.

(2)

: to aid in the birth of

delivered a baby

b

: to give birth to

After four months of bed rest at home, she delivered a healthy baby boy.

—Anita Lewis and Joyce Sasson Levy

c

: to cause (oneself) to produce as if by giving birth

has delivered himself of half an autobiography

—H. C. Schonberg

4

: speak, sing, utter

delivered a fiery sermon to the congregation

deliver a song

deliver a speech

5

: to send (something aimed or guided) to an intended target or destination

ability to deliver nuclear warheads

delivered a fastball

6

a

: to bring (something, such as votes) to the support of a candidate or cause

… were counting on Mr. Cisneros to deliver the Hispanic vote for Michael Dukakis.

—Alfredo Corchado

b

: to come through with : produce

can deliver the best results

The new car delivers high gas mileage.

intransitive verb

: to produce the promised, desired, or expected results : come through

can't deliver on all these promises

a hitter who can deliver in the clutch

deliverability

di-ˌli-v(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

dē-

noun

deliverable

di-ˈli-v(ə-)rə-bəl 

dē-

adjective

deliverer

di-ˈli-vər-ər 

dē-

noun

Phrases

deliver the goods

: to give results that are promised, expected, or desired

Synonyms

• redeem
• save

Choose the Right Synonym for deliver

rescue, deliver, redeem, ransom, reclaim, save mean to set free from confinement or danger.

rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

Examples of deliver in a Sentence

The package was delivered to the office this morning.

She delivers the mail on my street.

They are having the furniture delivered next week.

The supermarket delivers groceries for free within 30 miles of the store.

“Does the restaurant deliver?” “No, you have to pick up the food yourself.”

He will deliver the speech at noon.

The actors delivered their lines with passion.

The jury is expected to deliver a verdict later today.

The judge delivered a warning to the protesters.

The novel delivers an inspiring look into the life and ideas of Gandhi.

Recent Examples on the Web

In that gig he is paid to deliver, and comment on, breaking news from a GM’s perspective. —Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 7 Dec. 2024

Ledger, who tragically passed away at age 28 in 2008 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, delivered a breakout performance in the film. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024

Allen had been in the clubhouse eating a chili dog, put on a new jersey after spilling some chili on his shirt and then went out and delivered the clutch home run. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 7 Dec. 2024

If successful, dissolution can break a stalemate or deliver a majority for the President. —Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French deliverer, delivrer, from Late Latin deliberare, from Latin de- + liberare to liberate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing deliver

• deliver on
• deliver oneself of
• deliver over into
• deliver over to
• deliver up to

Kids Definition

deliver

verb

de·​liv·​er di-ˈliv-ər 

delivered; delivering -(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to set free : save

deliver us from evil

2

: hand over, transfer

deliver a letter

3

a

: to assist in giving birth

also : to aid in the birth of

b

: to give birth to

4

: utter entry 2 sense 2

deliver a speech

5

: to send to an intended target or destination

deliver a pitch

6

: to produce the promised, desired, or expected results

deliver on a promise

deliverable

-(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

deliverer

-ər-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

deliver

verb

de·​liv·​er di-ˈliv-ər 

delivered; delivering -(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to assist (a parturient female) in giving birth

she was delivered of a fine boy

b

: to aid in the birth of

sometimes it is necessary to deliver a child with forceps

2

: to give birth to

she delivered a pair of healthy twins after a short labor

intransitive verb

: to give birth to offspring

patients that repeatedly deliver prematurely present special problems

Legal Definition

deliver

transitive verb

de·​liv·​er

delivered; delivering

: to transfer possession of (property) to another : put into the possession or exclusive control of another

a deed must be delivered to be effective

—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.

see also gift compare bail, convey, donate, give, sell

deliverable adjective