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

The job is not just knowing the product or having the right answer, but being the person someone calls when something breaks or a deadline slips. — Jeremy Fain, Fortune, 1 July 2026

Now, that deadline is here — and right as lawmakers pursue a stricter smartphone policy that would impact students statewide. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Getting that kind of immediate impact — five-plus weeks ahead of the trade deadline — is exceedingly rare. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 1 July 2026

The resolution doesn’t provide Wysong a deadline for the analysis. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 1 July 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