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

Extending a grant’s deadline will not pay salaries or maintain equipment. — Carole Labonne, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026

Local officials are receiving and examining absentee and provisional ballots, called affidavit ballots, before deadlines next week. — Bill Barrow, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026

The discovery of the votes changed the Republican incumbent's 58-vote deficit into a 262-vote lead, meaning the seat could flip back to the GOP if certified by county officials before the deadline of Monday. — Oliver Trapnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026

Toho, the film’s producer, put the film up for consideration shortly before the deadline, after encouragement from a member of the film’s legal team. — Matt Alt, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 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
• brucine
• byline

Kids Definition

deadline

noun

dead·​line ˈded-ˌlīn 

: a date or time before which something must be done