deadline
/ˈdɛd.laɪn/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A deadline is the latest time or date when something must be finished or submitted. After a deadline, the task is late.
- The deadline for applications is Friday.
- I missed the deadline by two hours.
- Please submit your report before the deadline.
Adinary Nuance
A deadline is stricter than a target date or a due date. A target date is a goal, and a due date is the planned date for payment or submission. A deadline often suggests a final limit, especially in school, work, and official settings.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hạn chót
- Spanish
- plazo
- Chinese
- 截止日期
- Japanese
- 締め切り
- Korean
- 마감일
Etymology
Deadline came into English in the late 1800s. It first meant a line around a prison that prisoners could not cross; later it came to mean a time limit.
Common phrases
meet a deadlinemiss a deadlinedeadline pressuredeadline extension
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is deadline the same as due date?
- Not always. A due date is when something should be paid or submitted. A deadline is the final time limit.
- Can I say I have a deadline for a meeting?
- Yes, if the meeting must happen by a certain time. For tasks, deadline is more common.
- Is deadline formal or informal?
- It is common in both everyday speech and formal writing. It is very common in office and academic English.
- What verbs go with deadline?
- Common verbs are meet, miss, set, and extend. These are the most natural collocations.