delivery

noun

de·liv·ery di-ˈli-v(ə-)rē

dē-

plural deliveries

Synonyms of delivery next

: the act or manner of delivering something

also : something delivered

Example Sentences

The delivery is scheduled for this morning. The company offers free delivery with orders over $100. Someone has to be home to accept delivery of the package. Allow six weeks for delivery. The baby weighed almost seven pounds at the time of delivery. The doctor expects it to be a routine delivery. The doctor has had three deliveries today. The joke was funny, but his delivery was terrible. I need to work on my delivery before I give the speech. See More

Recent Examples on the Web After a successful delivery, the couple was able to contact 911 operators and the DC Fire and EMS team for additional help. —

Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 5 Mar. 2023 One idea would be to ask your most reliable friend or family member to coordinate a delivery of one fresh bouquet each week for the next month or so – each from a different friend. —

Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 3 Mar. 2023 One idea would be to ask your most reliable friend or family member to coordinate a delivery of one fresh bouquet each week for the next month or so — each from a different friend. —

Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2023 One idea would be to ask your most reliable friend or family member to coordinate a delivery of one fresh bouquet each week for the next month or so – each from a different friend. —

Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 3 Mar. 2023 Community groups said things had improved in recent weeks: Davila said that Community Health Project LA recently got a delivery of 30,000 condoms. —

Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2023 His hope is to employ a more efficient delivery that places less stress on his body and arm — an undertaking that could come with its own adaptation period. —

Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Mar. 2023 In the show, Lasso wins the affection of a steely coworker with a daily delivery of homemade shortbread biscuits (and a side of Midwestern charm), wearing down her tough exterior with buttery pastry. —

Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 24 Feb. 2023 Since taking delivery in 2021, the owner has enjoyed life in the Mediterranean, in particular Sardinia, where the yacht has extensively cruised. —

Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'delivery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of delivery was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Delivery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delivery. Accessed 20 Mar. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

delivery

noun

de·liv·ery di-ˈliv-(ə-)rē

plural deliveries

: a delivering from something that restricts or burdens

: the act of handing over

: a legal transfer of right or title

: something delivered at one time or in one unit

: the action of giving birth

: a delivering especially of a speech

: manner or style of delivering

Medical Definition

delivery

noun

de·liv·ery di-ˈliv-(ə-)rē

plural deliveries

: the act of giving birth : the expulsion or extraction of a fetus and its membranes : parturition

: the procedure of assisting birth of the fetus and expulsion of the placenta by manual, instrumental, or surgical means

Legal Definition

delivery

noun

de·liv·ery

plural deliveries

: an act that shows a transferor's intent to make a transfer of property (as a gift)

especially : the transfer of possession or exclusive control of property to another

— actual delivery

: a delivery (as by hand or shipment) of actual physical property (as jewelry or stock certificates)

— conditional delivery

: a delivery after which ownership will be transferred upon fulfillment of a condition compare gift causa mortis at gift

Note: A conditional delivery is usually made in order to make a transfer revocable.

— constructive delivery

: a delivery of a representation of property (as a written instrument) or means of possession (as a key) that is construed by a court as sufficient to show the transferor's intent or to put the property under the transferee's control

called also symbolic delivery