deliver

UK: /dɪˈlɪvə^r/ US: /dɪˈlɪvɚ/ ,(di liv′ər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•liv•er /dɪˈlɪvɚ/   v. 

1. [ ~ + obj] to carry and turn over to the person receiving:
   delivered the letter last week.
2. [no obj] to provide a service for carrying and turning over letters, goods, and products:
   That pizza place delivers at no extra charge.
3. [ ~ + obj] to give into another's possession or keeping;
   hand over;
   surrender:
   to deliver a prisoner to the police.
4. [ ~ + obj] to give forth in words;
   utter or pronounce:
   to deliver a speech.
5. [ ~ + obj] to strike or throw:
   to deliver a blow.
6. [ ~ + obj + from + obj] to set free or liberate;
   save:
   Moses delivered his people from bondage.
7. Medicine
   • [ ~ + obj] to help or assist at the birth of:
     The doctor delivered the baby.
8. to do or carry out (something) as promised: [ ~ + obj]:
   In this job you have to deliver results.
   [ no obj]:
   I expect you to deliver on your promises soon.

See -liber-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•liv•er  (di liv′ər), v.t. 

1. to carry and turn over (letters, goods, etc.) to the intended recipient or recipients:
   to deliver mail; to deliver a package.
2. to give into another's possession or keeping;
   surrender:
   to deliver a prisoner to the police; to deliver a bond.
3. to bring (votes) to the support of a candidate or a cause.
4. to give forth in words;
   utter or pronounce:
   to deliver a verdict; to deliver a speech.
5. to give forth or emit:
   The oil well delivers 500 barrels a day.
6. to strike or throw:
   to deliver a blow.
7. to set free or liberate:
   The Israelites were delivered from bondage.
8. to release or save:
   Deliver me from such tiresome people!
9. to assist (a female) in bringing forth young:
   The doctor delivered her of twins.
10. Medicine to assist at the birth of:
    The doctor delivered the baby.
11. Medicine to give birth to:
    She delivered twins at 4
    a. m.
12. to disburden (oneself ) of thoughts, opinions, etc.
13. to make known;
    assert.

v.i. 

14. Medicine to give birth.
15. to provide a delivery service for goods and products:
    The store delivers free of charge.
16. to do or carry out as promised:
    an ad agency known for delivering when a successful campaign is needed.

adj. 

17. [Archaic.] agile;
    quick.

• Late Latin dēlīberāre to set free, equivalent. to dē- de- + līberāre to liberate
• Old French delivrer
• Middle English delivren 1175–1225

de•liv′er•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. . hand over, transfer, cede, yield.
• 4. . communicate, announce, proclaim, publish.
• 7. . emancipate, release.
• 8. . redeem, rescue.

Antonyms

• 7. . confine.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

deliver / dɪˈlɪvə/ verb (mainly tr)

1. to carry (goods, etc) to a destination, esp to carry and distribute (goods, mail, etc) to several places: to deliver letters, our local butcher delivers
2. often followed by over or up: to hand over, transfer, or surrender
3. (often followed by from) to release or rescue (from captivity, harm, corruption, etc)
4. (also intr) to aid in the birth of (offspring)
5. to give birth to (offspring)
6. (usually followed by of) to aid or assist (a female) in the birth (of offspring)
7. (passive) followed by of: to give birth (to offspring)
8. to utter (an exclamation, noise, etc): to deliver a cry of exultation
9. to discharge or release (something, such as a blow or shot) suddenly
10. to cause (voters, constituencies, etc) to support a given candidate, cause, etc
11. deliver oneself of ⇒ to speak with deliberation or at length
12. deliver the goods ⇒ to produce or perform something promised or expected

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French delivrer, from Late Latin dēlīberāre to set free, from Latin de- + līberāre to free

deˈliverable adjective

deˈliverer noun