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deliver

verb de·liv·er \di-ˈli-vər, dē-\

: to take (something) to a person or place

: to say (something) officially or publicly : to present (a speech, statement, etc.) to a group of people

: to do what you say you will do or what people expect you to do : to produce the promised, wanted, or expected results

de·liv·eredde·liv·er·ing \-v(ə-)riŋ\

Full Definition of DELIVER

transitive verb

: to set free <and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil — Matthew 6:13(Authorized Version)>

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>

a (1) : to assist in giving birth (2) : to aid in the birth of

b : to give birth to

c : to cause (oneself) to produce as if by giving birth <has delivered himself of half an autobiography — H. C. Schonberg>

: speak, sing, utter <delivered their lines with style> <deliver a song> <deliver a speech>

: to send (something aimed or guided) to an intended target or destination <ability to deliver nuclear warheads> <delivered a fastball>

a : to bring (as votes) to the support of a candidate or cause

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>

— de·liv·er·abil·i·ty \-ˌli-v(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— de·liv·er·able \-ˈli-v(ə-)rə-bəl\ adjective

— de·liv·er·er \-ˈli-vər-ər\ noun

— deliver the goods

: to give results that are promised, expected, or desired

See deliver defined for English-language learners

See deliver defined for kids

Origin of DELIVER

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DELIVER

Synonyms: save, redeem

Antonyms: adventure, compromise, endanger, gamble (with), hazard, imperil, jeopardize, peril, risk, venture

Synonym Discussion of 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>.

Rhymes with DELIVER

almsgiver, aquiver, caregiver, chopped liver, downriver, East River, forgiver, lawgiver, upriver

DELIVER Defined for Kids

deliver

verb de·liv·er \di-ˈli-vər\

de·liv·eredde·liv·er·ing

Definition of DELIVER for Kids

: to take and give to or leave for another <deliver a letter> <This restaurant delivers.>

: to set free : rescue <They were delivered from their captors.>

: to give birth to or help in giving birth to <deliver a baby>

: ¹say 1 <deliver a speech>

: to send to an intended target <deliver a pitch>

: to do what is expected <He delivered on all his promises.>

— de·liv·er·er noun

Medical Dictionary

deliver

verb de·liv·er \di-ˈliv-ər\

de·liv·eredde·liv·er·ing \-(ə-)riŋ\

Medical Definition of DELIVER

transitive verb

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>

: 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>