1 : to take (something) to a person or place [+ obj] ▪ 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. [no obj] ▪ “Does the restaurant deliver?” “No, you have to pick up the food yourself.” 2 [+ obj] : to say (something) officially or publicly : to present (a speech, statement, etc.) to a group of people
▪ 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. 3 a [no obj] : to do what you say you will do or what people expect you to do : to produce the promised, wanted, or expected results
▪ We gave her the job because we know she'll deliver. [=come through] ▪ He failed to deliver on his promise. [=he failed to do what he promised to do]
b [+ obj] : to provide or produce (something)
▪ The novel delivers an inspiring look into the life and ideas of Gandhi. ▪ The company charges too much for what it delivers. ▪ The car delivers excellent/poor gas mileage. — see also deliver the goods at ²good 4 [+ obj] a : to give birth to (a baby)
▪ She delivered healthy twin girls early this morning. ▪ (technical) The patient was delivered of [=gave birth to] healthy twin girls this morning.
b : to help someone give birth to (a baby)
▪ The doctor is delivering a baby right now. 5 [+ obj] : to give control of (someone or something) to another person or group — + to or into ▪ He argues that by letting children watch too much television, we are delivering them into the hands of advertisers. ▪ A group of soldiers were delivered up to [=handed over to] the enemy at the border. ▪ The agreement delivered over [=transferred] the documents into the possession of the museum. 6 [+ obj] : to cause (something, such as a punch, a thrown ball, etc.) to hit or go to a person or place
▪ The boxer delivered a crushing blow to his opponent's head. ▪ He delivered [=threw] a fastball right over the plate. ▪ The country is believed to have the ability to deliver nuclear warheads. [=to attack other countries with nuclear warheads] 7 [+ obj] chiefly US : to get (votes) for a particular person or issue in an election
▪ She is doing her best to deliver the college student vote. [=to convince college students to vote a particular way] 8 [+ obj] formal + literary : to free (someone) from something
▪ all those who long to be delivered from slavery/tyranny ▪ “…deliver [=save] us from evil.” — Matthew 6:13 (KJV)