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

While Ukraine has agreed to Washington’s ceasefire proposals, Putin has flatly rejected all attempts and broken deadlines set forth by Trump. —Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025

The most obvious unpredictable variable is the looming tariff deadline. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 30 June 2025

More than 10 cities submitted formal bids in advance of the deadline, including groups in Austin, Charlotte, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City and Nashville. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 30 June 2025

Not surprisingly, few deep thoughts materialized before my publisher’s arbitrary-yet-definitive deadline. —Stephanie Elizondo Griest june 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 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