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

see also:

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

His outing will only amplify the noise for the Chiefs to make a move at wide receiver at next week’s deadline. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

The Packers could actually trigger in the neighborhood of $5 million in salary cap savings by releasing Jacobs by the trade deadline. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

But by 1981, the Twins had determined Koosman had more use to them in the bullpen and eventually sent him to the White Sox at the trade deadline. — Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026

Record participants, results, failures, corrective actions, owners and deadlines. — Bojan Ilic, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing deadline

• on deadline
• under deadline

Rhymes for deadline

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

Kids Definition

deadline

noun

dead·​line ˈded-ˌlīn 

: a date or time before which something must be done