1
: a line drawn within or around a prison that a prisoner passes at the risk of being shot
2
a
: a date or time before which something must be done
b
: the time after which copy is not accepted for a particular issue of a publication
see also:
Examples of deadline in a Sentence
She worked on her composition right up until the deadline.
We had to hurry to meet the deadline.
The project was completed a week past its deadline.
The deadline for submitting college applications is April 19th.
They're working under a deadline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sands out The Twins traded away their best five relievers at the deadline last July and committed to building a new bullpen with young arms this season.
—
John Shipley, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026
With an adjournment deadline of midnight Wednesday, Ritter is facing daily disasters and dramas relating to lawmakers clamoring for votes on bills destined to die without their moment on the floor.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
The Kings’ modest but fruitful trade-deadline acquisitions in consecutive years are both up for new deals, winger Andrei Kuzmenko, who returned on a one-year pact last summer, and center Scott Laughton.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 2 May 2026
Though the current contract does not expire until June 30, the negotiators were up against a deadline.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deadline
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John Shipley, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026
With an adjournment deadline of midnight Wednesday, Ritter is facing daily disasters and dramas relating to lawmakers clamoring for votes on bills destined to die without their moment on the floor.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
The Kings’ modest but fruitful trade-deadline acquisitions in consecutive years are both up for new deals, winger Andrei Kuzmenko, who returned on a one-year pact last summer, and center Scott Laughton.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 2 May 2026
Though the current contract does not expire until June 30, the negotiators were up against a deadline.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deadline
Cite this Entry
“Deadline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deadline. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deadline
noun
dead·line
ˈded-ˌlīn 
: a date or time before which something must be done
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