deliver

verb

de·​liv·​er di-ˈli-vər How to pronounce deliver (audio)
dē-
delivered; delivering di-ˈli-v(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce deliver (audio)
dē-
; delivers

transitive verb

1
: to set free
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evilMatthew 6:13 (King James Version)
2
a
: to take and hand over to or leave for another : convey
deliver a package
b
: hand over, surrender
delivered the prisoners to the sheriff
delivered themselves over to God
c
: to send, provide, or make accessible to someone electronically
deliver an email/text message
Have the information delivered to you via e-mail, cell phone, pager, instant messaging, or just on a Web page that you set up.Irene B. McDermott
When Netflix entered the European market in 2012, some national telecom companies forced it to pay "tolls" to deliver content to customers.Liz Alderman and Amie Tsang
3
a(1)
: to assist (a pregnant female) in giving birth
The doctor delivered several women.
(2)
: to aid in the birth of
delivered a baby
b
: to give birth to
After four months of bed rest at home, she delivered a healthy baby boy.Anita Lewis and Joyce Sasson Levy
c
: to cause (oneself) to produce as if by giving birth
has delivered himself of half an autobiographyH. C. Schonberg
4
: speak, sing, utter
delivered a fiery sermon to the congregation
deliver a song
deliver a speech
5
: to send (something aimed or guided) to an intended target or destination
ability to deliver nuclear warheads
delivered a fastball
6
a
: to bring (something, such as votes) to the support of a candidate or cause
… were counting on Mr. Cisneros to deliver the Hispanic vote for Michael Dukakis.Alfredo Corchado
b
: to come through with : produce
can deliver the best results
The new car delivers high gas mileage.

intransitive verb

: to produce the promised, desired, or expected results : come through
can't deliver on all these promises
a hitter who can deliver in the clutch
deliverability noun
deliverable adjective
deliverer noun
Phrases
deliver the goods
: to give results that are promised, expected, or desired
Choose the Right Synonym for deliver

rescue, deliver, redeem, ransom, reclaim, save mean to set free from confinement or danger.

rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

Examples of deliver in a Sentence

The package was delivered to the office this morning. She delivers the mail on my street. They are having the furniture delivered next week. The supermarket delivers groceries for free within 30 miles of the store. “Does the restaurant deliver?” “No, you have to pick up the food yourself.” He will deliver the speech at noon. The actors delivered their lines with passion. The jury is expected to deliver a verdict later today. The judge delivered a warning to the protesters. The novel delivers an inspiring look into the life and ideas of Gandhi. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Drizzy switches between emotional crooning and delivering fierce bars throughout the song, while SZA's soulful voice soars over the atmospheric track. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2023 Former President Donald Trump will deliver the closing address at the Concerned Women for America Leadership Summit at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, D.C., on Friday night. Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 15 Sep. 2023 Biden in the spotlight: Biden is planning to deliver a speech later this month in Arizona focused on threats to democracy, likely one day after the next GOP debate later this month, NBC News’ Peter Alexander, Carol E. Lee and Megan Lebowitz report. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 15 Sep. 2023 On the other, their parent companies depend on them to deliver big audiences that can be monetized through advertising sales and distribution fees. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 15 Sep. 2023 More: Sign up for Carolyn’s email newsletter to get her column delivered to your inbox each morning. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023 One scene is straight out of a French farce: Unbeknownst to either of Musk’s parenting partners, both are in the same hospital, one giving birth to his twins and the other helping a surrogate deliver another fruit of his loins. WIRED, 15 Sep. 2023 Permission to ghost fairweather friends More: Sign up for Carolyn’s email newsletter to get her column delivered to your inbox each morning. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023 Sign up to get sports news and features delivered daily What are the playoff standings entering Darlington? Ellen J. Horrow, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deliver.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French deliverer, delivrer, from Late Latin deliberare, from Latin de- + liberare to liberate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deliver was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near deliver

Cite this Entry

“Deliver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deliver. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

deliver

verb
de·​liv·​er di-ˈliv-ər How to pronounce deliver (audio)
delivered; delivering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce deliver (audio)
1
: to set free : save
deliver us from evil
2
: hand over, transfer
deliver a letter
3
a
: to assist in giving birth
also : to aid in the birth of
b
: to give birth to
4
: utter entry 2 sense 2
deliver a speech
5
: to send to an intended target or destination
deliver a pitch
6
: to produce the promised, desired, or expected results
deliver on a promise
deliverable adjective
deliverer noun

Medical Definition

deliver

verb
de·​liv·​er di-ˈliv-ər How to pronounce deliver (audio)
delivered; delivering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce deliver (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to assist (a parturient female) in giving birth
she was delivered of a fine boy
b
: to aid in the birth of
sometimes it is necessary to deliver a child with forceps
2
: to give birth to
she delivered a pair of healthy twins after a short labor

intransitive verb

: to give birth to offspring
patients that repeatedly deliver prematurely present special problems

Legal Definition

deliver

transitive verb
de·​liv·​er
delivered; delivering
: to transfer possession of (property) to another : put into the possession or exclusive control of another
a deed must be delivered to be effectiveW. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
see also gift compare bail, convey, donate, give, sell
deliverable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on deliver

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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