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

Phrases

on deadline or under deadline

: with the requirement of meeting a deadline

working 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

There are trade deadline options out there. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025

Exactly how far out to schedule the new deadline will be a tricky question. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025

Flynn argues on behalf of the Great Lakes tribes that the Court of Appeals got it right in its ruling − that Enbridge filed its request to remove the state case to federal court beyond the statutory 30-day deadline. —Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025

There is no deadline or definitive timetable set for completion of the strategic alternatives review process. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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