# deliver

/dɪˈɫɪvɝ/ (US) · /dɪlˈɪvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deliver
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to transport goods

verb · CEFR A2

to take letters, parcels, or goods to a person or a place.

For teachers: to transport and hand over letters, packages, or goods to the intended recipient.

- The supermarket will deliver our groceries tomorrow morning between nine and ten.
- The courier service failed to deliver the legal documents on time, resulting in a significant delay for the court proceedings.

### 2. to produce results

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to do what you promised or what people expect you to do.

For teachers: to provide or produce what is promised, expected, or required. Often used intransitively in business contexts.

- The new manager promised to increase sales, and she really delivered.
- Despite the initial hype, the software update failed to deliver the performance improvements that the developers had advertised.

### 3. to give a speech

verb · CEFR B1 · Formal

to give a speech, a talk, or a formal statement in front of people.

For teachers: to utter or give forth in words; to present a formal speech or lecture to an audience.

- The president will deliver a speech on television tonight.
- The keynote speaker delivered a powerful presentation that challenged the audience to rethink their approach to environmental sustainability.

### 4. childbirth

verb · CEFR B2

to help a woman give birth to a baby.

For teachers: to assist a woman in the process of giving birth; also used to describe the act of the mother giving birth.

- The doctor delivered the twins safely in the middle of the night.
- The medical team was prepared for complications, but the midwife delivered the infant without any need for surgical intervention.

### 5. to rescue

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary · Formal

to save someone from something bad or dangerous.

For teachers: to set free from restraint, danger, or evil.

- They prayed that they would be delivered from their troubles.
- The ancient text tells the story of a hero who delivered his people from centuries of oppressive rule.

### 6. to throw or strike

verb · CEFR B2

to throw a ball or hit someone with a punch.

For teachers: to send forth or discharge a blow, a ball, or a shot.

- The pitcher delivered a fast ball that the batter couldn't hit.
- The boxer delivered a sharp blow to his opponent's ribs, ending the round with a clear advantage.

## Examples

- The courier will deliver the package tomorrow morning.
- The local pharmacy offers a service to deliver prescriptions directly to the homes of elderly patients who cannot travel.
- While the logistics team worked to deliver the supplies on schedule, the CEO prepared to deliver a speech that would address the company's recent challenges.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.