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deadline
/ˈdɛdlaɪn/
final time for completing a task
The project deadline is this Friday.
The last possible day to finish the project is Friday.
formal
The latest time or date by which something must be completed.
She worked overtime to meet the deadline for her report.
She worked extra hours to finish her report on time.
The submission deadline for the competition is December 1st.
You must submit your entry by December 1st to be considered.
Often used in work, school, or project management contexts.
Collocations
meet a deadlineto complete a task on timemiss a deadlineto fail to complete a task by the required timeextended deadlinea later than originally scheduled due date
Synonyms
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'lifeline'
'Deadline' refers to a final time limit, while 'lifeline' refers to something that saves you from difficulty. They are opposites in meaning.
Gold Rule
Use 'deadline' for final dates only
Do not use 'deadline' for intermediate or flexible deadlines. Reserve it for the absolute final time by which work must be completed.
Word Origin
First recorded in the 1860s; from 'dead' (meaning 'not alive') + 'line' (a boundary or limit). Originally referred to a line around a prison beyond which prisoners would be shot (dead). Later metaphorically extended to mean a final time limit.
Usage Notes
Common in professional and academic settings. Avoid using 'deadline' for personal schedules unless in a formal context.
Word Breakdown
dead
not alive; final
rootline
boundary or limit
rootEnglish Dictionary