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

That deadline passed at the end of last month, and the NBA drew a glut of interest, including multiple offers with more than $1 billion in investment, The Athletic reported last week. —Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Players don’t have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline. —Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026

But here’s how markets are reacting to the approaching deadline. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026

Students learn to meet deadlines and follow instructions — useful skills, but incomplete ones. —Ali Kaufman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 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
• byline
• canine

Kids Definition

deadline

noun

dead·​line ˈded-ˌlīn 

: a date or time before which something must be done