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

Negotiators from the seven states along the Colorado River blew past yet another federal deadline over the weekend without reaching a compromise on how to share its water — even as this winter’s dismal snowpack could spell immediate disaster for the river system. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026

Over the next few years, Connecticut Water is planning 26 projects around the state targeting PFAS filtration to meet the new EPA regulations by the 2029 deadline. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2026

Meanwhile, many of India's development projects on the border sputter along without a deadline, often stymied by its slow-moving bureaucracy. —Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026

The order does not give NPS a deadline for restoring the site. —Laura Fay, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026

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