deadline

noun

dead·​line ˈded-ˌlīn 

1

: a line drawn within or around a prison that a prisoner passes at the risk of being shot

2

a

: a date or time before which something must be done

b

: the time after which copy is not accepted for a particular issue of a publication

Phrases

on deadline or under deadline

: with the requirement of meeting a deadline

working on deadline

Examples of deadline in a Sentence

She worked on her composition right up until the deadline.

We had to hurry to meet the deadline.

The project was completed a week past its deadline.

The deadline for submitting college applications is April 19th.

They're working under a deadline.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the law’s facilitators—CalRecycle—failed to meet a March 8 deadline for delivering the regulations tied to the law. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 May 2025

Tuesday is the last day the House can hear most major Senate bills, a critical deadline for legislation. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2025

Here are three starting pitchers the Cubs should target prior to the trade deadline. —Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025

That said, Tesla has a history of missing deadlines Musk lays out for the company. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 26 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for deadline

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• byline
• canine

Kids Definition

deadline

noun

dead·​line ˈded-ˌlīn 

: a date or time before which something must be done