deliver
- 01 A2 Elementary
to take letters, parcels, or goods to a person or a place.
to transport and hand over letters, packages, or goods to the intended recipient.
Simple“The supermarket will deliver our groceries tomorrow morning between nine and ten.”
In context“The courier service failed to deliver the legal documents on time, resulting in a significant delay for the court proceedings.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to do what you promised or what people expect you to do.
to provide or produce what is promised, expected, or required. Often used intransitively in business contexts.
Simple“The new manager promised to increase sales, and she really delivered.”
In context“Despite the initial hype, the software update failed to deliver the performance improvements that the developers had advertised.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
to give a speech, a talk, or a formal statement in front of people.
to utter or give forth in words; to present a formal speech or lecture to an audience.
Simple“The president will deliver a speech on television tonight.”
In context“The keynote speaker delivered a powerful presentation that challenged the audience to rethink their approach to environmental sustainability.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
to help a woman give birth to a baby.
to assist a woman in the process of giving birth; also used to describe the act of the mother giving birth.
Simple“The doctor delivered the twins safely in the middle of the night.”
In context“The medical team was prepared for complications, but the midwife delivered the infant without any need for surgical intervention.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
to save someone from something bad or dangerous.
to set free from restraint, danger, or evil.
Simple“They prayed that they would be delivered from their troubles.”
In context“The ancient text tells the story of a hero who delivered his people from centuries of oppressive rule.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
to throw a ball or hit someone with a punch.
to send forth or discharge a blow, a ball, or a shot.
Simple“The pitcher delivered a fast ball that the batter couldn't hit.”
In context“The boxer delivered a sharp blow to his opponent's ribs, ending the round with a clear advantage.”
Usage deliver aid · deliver transitional · deliver food
From Middle English deliveren, from Anglo-Norman and Old French delivrer, from Latin dē + līberō (“to set free”). Compare typologically dispatch, analyzable as dis- + impeach, from Latin impedicō (also akin to impede).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.