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

Valdez added a sacrifice fly in the fourth for Pittsburgh, who have gone 1-7 since the trade deadline. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

One important sidenote is that City has been set a Friday 5pm UK deadline by Premier League rivals Chelsea to sign Enzo Fernandez. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Luis Campusano added a two-run homer for the Padres, who will go for a three-game sweep on Wednesday behind trade deadline acquisition Robbie Ray. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

The Giants got significantly younger after making five trades that sent away six major leaguers at last week’s trade deadline. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 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