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 top factor that went into waiving the payments was the age of the cases, the spokesperson said, adding that the legal deadline to collect the money through the court system had passed. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026

Woman student, fatigue with headache and university burnout, stress for paper deadline or study for exam in library. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026

Check your state’s requirements and registration deadline before submitting an application. — Time Staff, Time, 3 Oct. 2026

The European Commission has set an October deadline for progress in the negotiations, as France and Germany push for harsher measures. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 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