deliver
verb
de·liv·er di-ˈli-vər 
dē-
delivered; delivering di-ˈli-v(ə-)riŋ
dē-
; delivers transitive verb
1
: to set free
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil 
Matthew 6:13 (King James Version)
Matthew 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
Irene B. McDermottWhen 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
Liz Alderman and Amie Tsang3
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
Anita Lewis and Joyce Sasson Levy c
: to cause (oneself) to produce as if by giving birth
has delivered himself of half an autobiography H. C. Schonberg
H. C. Schonberg4
: 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
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
di-ˌli-v(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun dē-
deliverable
di-ˈli-v(ə-)rə-bəl
adjective dē-
deliverer
di-ˈli-vər-ər
noun dē-
Synonyms
- redeem
- save
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Now that Apple has launched those products, millions of consumers are depending on Apple to deliver them. Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 His goal: to carry said beverages back over the thirsty-looking crowd and deliver them to the band’s sound-man some 20 yards away. Chris Norris, SPIN, 4 Sep. 2022 Once the vehicles and their payload are back on the ships, researchers preserve them and deliver them to labs, where their genomes are sequenced. Eric Niiler, WSJ, 3 Sep. 2022 Within a few days, about 20 volunteers had gathered there to cook meals and deliver them to people in need. Emma Balter, Chron, 2 Sep. 2022 But the focus ought to be on the cost of higher education, and a reformation on how to deliver it to more people. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 The whole point of adaptations is to bring a glorious story to life in a new way, to celebrate its timelessness and deliver it to a new audience. Mary Mcnamara, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 Humor and the comedians who deliver it have a critical role to play, Mr. Osadchyi says. Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Aug. 2022 So then, why do so many companies struggle to deliver it? Mehdi Daoudi, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 See More
Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 His goal: to carry said beverages back over the thirsty-looking crowd and deliver them to the band’s sound-man some 20 yards away. Chris Norris, SPIN, 4 Sep. 2022 Once the vehicles and their payload are back on the ships, researchers preserve them and deliver them to labs, where their genomes are sequenced. Eric Niiler, WSJ, 3 Sep. 2022 Within a few days, about 20 volunteers had gathered there to cook meals and deliver them to people in need. Emma Balter, Chron, 2 Sep. 2022 But the focus ought to be on the cost of higher education, and a reformation on how to deliver it to more people. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 The whole point of adaptations is to bring a glorious story to life in a new way, to celebrate its timelessness and deliver it to a new audience. Mary Mcnamara, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 Humor and the comedians who deliver it have a critical role to play, Mr. Osadchyi says. Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Aug. 2022 So then, why do so many companies struggle to deliver it? Mehdi Daoudi, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Phrases Containing deliver
Kids Definition
deliver
verb
de·liv·er di-ˈli-vər
delivered; delivering
1
: to take and give to or leave for another
deliver a letter
This restaurant delivers.
2
: to set free : rescue
They were delivered from their captors.
3
: to give birth to or help in giving birth to
deliver a baby
4
: say entry 1 sense 1
deliver a speech
5
: to send to an intended target
deliver a pitch
6
: to do what is expected
He delivered on all his promises.
Medical Definition
deliver
verb
de·liv·er di-ˈliv-ər
delivered; delivering -(ə-)riŋ
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 effective W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
see also gift compare bail, convey, donate, give, sell W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.deliver
verb
1
as in to save
to free from the penalties or consequences of sin deliver us from evil Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- save
- redeem
- reclaim
- forgive
- bless
- pardon
- reform
- remit
- purify
- consecrate
- sanctify
- shrive
- hallow
2
as in to rescue
to remove from danger or harm the passengers waited for the rescue ship to come and deliver them Synonyms & Similar Words
- save
- rescue
- salvage
- recover
- bail out
- liberate
- bring off
- extricate
- release
- emancipate
- free
- disentangle
- manumit
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- jeopardize
- compromise
- endanger
- adventure
- risk
- venture
- imperil
- gamble (with)
- hazard
- peril
3
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress delivered up the ransom money Synonyms & Similar Words
- relinquish
- render
- surrender
- yield
- transfer
- turn in
- cede
- turn over
- cough up
- entrust
- abandon
- commit
- lay down
- hand over
- resign
- give up
- release
- waive
- consign
- forfeit
- discard
- renounce
- forsake
- shed
- intrust
- desert
- abnegate
- part (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- retain
- keep
- withhold
4
as in to provide
to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption the inn endeavors to deliver the luxuries that its well-heeled guests have come to expect Synonyms & Similar Words
- provide
- give
- supply
- hand
- furnish
- distribute
- feed
- dispense
- hand over
- administer
- allocate
- portion
- dole out
- apportion
- assign
- transfer
- cede
- prorate
- ply (with)
- deed
- deal (out)
- parcel (out)
- make over
- mete (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- retain
- hold (back)
- keep (back)
- maintain
- withhold
- preserve
- save
- reserve
- conserve
- keep up
5
as in to hand
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another delivered the prisoners to the sheriff Synonyms & Similar Words
- hand
- give
- leave
- transfer
- transmit
- pass
- entrust
- delegate
- relinquish
- commit
- consign
- lend
- trust
- distribute
- recommend
- commend
- turn over
- grant
- submit
- dispense
- furnish
- confide
- will
- hand over
- confer
- assign
- give over
- loan
- repose
- supply
- intrust
- vest
- bequeath
- disperse
- yield
- divide
- turn in
- redeliver
- release
- hand in
- surrender
- advance
- deal (out)
- hand on
- hand down
- recommit
- retransfer
- retransmit
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hold
- retain
- keep
- receive
- withhold
- possess
- accept
- take
- own
- hold back
- reserve
- occupy
- detain
- take over
- take in
6
as in to succeed
to turn out as planned or desired finally, a summer blockbuster that delivers Synonyms & Similar Words
- succeed
- go
- click
- bear fruit
- work out
- pan out
- go over
- catch fire
- deliver the goods
- come off
- flourish
- catch on
- thrive
- prosper
- cook
- go like clockwork
- do the trick
- percolate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fail
- strike out
- miss
- fold
- wash out
- flunk
- collapse
- languish
- struggle
- founder
- bomb
- slip
- flop
- decline
- sink
- flounder
- skid
- crumble
- choke
- wane
- fall down
- slump
- crash
- miscarry
- misfire
- implode
- flame out
- crater
- crack up
- go under
- self-destruct
7
as in to produce
to bring forth from the womb she delivered four healthy babies Synonyms & Similar Words
- produce
- have
- mother
- generate
- birth
- get
- bear
- drop
- reproduce
- give birth to
- propagate
- spawn
- labor
- breed
- beget
- multiply
- father
- sire
- litter
- kid
- calve
- pup
- kitten
- kindle
- whelp
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lose
- abort
- miscarry
8
as in to indulge
to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly deeply dissatisfied with his dissolute lifestyle, he resolved to deliver himself over to the ways of the Lord Synonyms & Similar Words
- indulge
- surrender
- yield
- abandon
- give up
- revel
- bask
- overdo
- roll
- overindulge
- luxuriate
- wallow
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deny
- forego
- restrain
- check
- forgo
- eschew
- inhibit
- refrain (from)
- forbear
- abstain (from)
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of deliver are ransom, reclaim, redeem, rescue, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.
delivered his people from bondage
The words ransom and deliver are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.
tried to ransom the kidnap victim
In some situations, the words reclaim and deliver are roughly equivalent. However, reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.
reclaimed long-abandoned farms
The synonyms redeem and deliver are sometimes interchangeable, but redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.
job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment
The words rescue and deliver can be used in similar contexts, but rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.
rescued the crew of a sinking ship
Although the words save and deliver have much in common, 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