WordGarden.iodeliver
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /dɪlˈɪvə/
US
- /dɪˈlɪvər/
Meanings
Verb
to take something to the person or place it is meant for
to say or present something such as a speech, line, or joke
to produce what was promised, expected, or needed
More meaningsFewer meanings
to help a baby be born in childbirth
Beyond the definition
To deliver something isn't just about physically handing it over—though that is often the starting point. It means successfully bringing something to a destination, whether it's a package to your doorstep, a speech to an audience, or a promise to someone you care about. Think of a reliable pizza delivery driver, but also the confidence of a speaker sharing a moving message.
You can deliver mail, groceries, and even help deliver a baby. Beyond the physical, you can "deliver" on a commitment, which means following through on your word. There is also a more formal sense of the word: to free someone from captivity or danger, such as the plea, "Deliver me from my enemies." Ultimately, it is about bringing something to a destination or freeing someone from a burden.
The word "deliver" carries a surprisingly broad range of meanings, all centered around the concept of successfully conveying, accomplishing, or releasing something. At its most fundamental level, it means to transport something to a specific destination. This is the sense used by courier services like FedEx or the postal service when they deliver goods to our homes. For example, "The florist will deliver the flowers tomorrow."
However, "deliver" extends far beyond physical objects. It can refer to the act of giving a speech or a performance: "She delivered a powerful presentation that captivated the audience." It also describes the act of fulfilling a promise or meeting an expectation: "He promised to finish the project by Friday, and he delivered." In this context, the word is synonymous with reliability and follow-through.
Historically, "deliver" also meant to rescue or set someone free from danger or captivity. While less common in everyday modern conversation, this sense remains deeply embedded in literature and religious texts, such as the phrase "Deliver us from evil" in the Lord's Prayer.
The word has specialized uses as well. In medicine, a doctor or midwife delivers a baby by assisting in the birth process. In sports, particularly baseball or cricket, a ball is "delivered" when it is thrown or bowled toward the batter.
Whether it involves packages, speeches, promises, or new life, "deliver" signifies the successful completion of a transfer. It is the act of getting something from one point to another, or bringing a result into being.
Examples
- 1
Bakery delivery
The bakery delivers fresh bread to the cafe every morning.
- 2
Furniture delivery
We can deliver the sofa on Friday afternoon.
- 3
Delivery area
The store doesn't deliver outside the city.
- 4
Arranged delivery
She had the medicine delivered to her office.
- Patternhave + item delivered
arrange for it to be brought to you
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Public speech
The mayor will deliver a short speech after the ceremony.
- 6
Bad news
No one wanted to deliver the bad news to her.
- 7
Promises
If you promise faster service, you need to deliver on it.
- Patterndeliver on + promise
do what you promised
- 8
Results
The new software is expensive, but it does deliver results.
- Phrasedeliver results
produce the effect people want
- 9
Childbirth
The doctor delivered the baby just before dawn.
- Domainin medicine, deliver a baby
help a baby be born
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- deliververb
Forms
- deliveredpast tenseverb
- delivering-ing formverb
- deliversverb