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

One 2020 deadline was extended to 2023 because of the pandemic, which in 2022 was pushed again to the current 2025 date. —Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2024

The act was passed by Congress in 2005 and is meant to set higher security standards for IDs across the nation, but the deadline for meeting compliance was pushed back three times from the original 2020 deadline before arriving at the 2025 deadline approaching now. —Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing deadline

• on deadline
• under deadline

Kids Definition

deadline

noun

dead·​line ˈded-ˌlīn 

: a date or time before which something must be done