Delivery vs. Deliver: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 3, 2023
Delivery is the process or act of transporting goods, mail, etc., to a designated location; Deliver is the verb form, denoting the action of carrying and turning over such items.
Key Differences
Delivery and Deliver are correlated in meaning but belong to different grammatical categories. Delivery is a noun and signifies the process or action by which a product, service, or amount of something is given to someone, often relating to items, mail, or goods being transported to a specified destination. It typically involves logistics and can relate to various sectors, such as food, mail, or health services, emphasizing the completion of the transfer process. Deliver, on the other hand, is a verb and is the action form of delivery. It denotes the act of bringing and handing over something to a designated recipient or address, often involving a transit process.
Exploring further, delivery often implies a structured and organized system that ensures the proper transfer of goods and services. It’s generally associated with timely and efficient handover and encompasses different stages, from processing to transporting to handing over. Deliver is the operational aspect within this system. When someone delivers something, they perform the act of transporting and turning over the requested item or service to the recipient, fulfilling a demand or a need.
In different contexts, delivery can also denote the manner or style in which something is expressed or performed, such as in speech delivery. It focuses on the execution and the way something is presented or conveyed to others. Correspondingly, to deliver in such contexts means to present or express something in a specific manner, concentrating on the act of conveying or transmitting information, feelings, or expressions, and it could be evaluated based on clarity, precision, and impact.
Finally, the word delivery is usually associated with the completion and success of handing over, focusing on the outcome of the transportation process. It implies the fulfillment of a request or a duty. In contrast, to deliver is to execute the action that leads to this completion, placing emphasis on the effort and the process of ensuring that goods, services, or expressions reach their intended destination or recipient. It's about the journey and the steps taken to achieve successful delivery.
Comparison Chart
Grammatical Category
Noun
Verb
ADVERTISEMENT
Function
Denotes the act or process of delivering.
Represents the action of delivering.
Associated with
Completion and handover of items or services.
The process and action of handing over.
Usage
Used to discuss the method or success of handover.
Used to describe the act of giving or presenting.
Focus
On the outcome of the transporting process.
On the effort and process of transporting.
Delivery and Deliver Definitions
Delivery
The process of giving birth.
She had a smooth delivery with no complications.
ADVERTISEMENT
Deliver
To utter or present a speech or expression.
She will deliver the keynote address at the conference.
Delivery
The handing over of possession or control.
The delivery of the documents was confirmed.
Deliver
To produce or achieve a desired effect.
The new policy failed to deliver the expected results.
Delivery
A pitch thrown to the batter in baseball.
The pitcher’s delivery was fast and accurate.
Deliver
To release or give forth.
The clouds will deliver rain by evening.
Delivery
The act of conveying or delivering.
Deliver
To assist in the birth of a child.
The midwife helped to deliver the baby safely.
Delivery
Something delivered, as a shipment or package.
Deliver
To bring or transport to the proper place or recipient; distribute
Deliver groceries.
Deliver the mail.
Delivery
The act of transferring to another.
Deliver
To surrender (someone or something) to another; hand over
Delivered the criminal to the police.
Delivery
(Law) A formal act of transferring ownership of property to another
Delivery of a deed.
Deliver
To secure (something promised or desired), as for a candidate or political party
Campaign workers who delivered the ward for the mayor.
Delivery
The act of giving up; surrender.
Deliver
To throw or hurl
The pitcher delivered the ball.
Delivery
The act or manner of throwing or discharging.
Deliver
To strike (a blow).
Delivery
The act of giving birth; parturition.
Deliver
To express in words; declare or utter
Deliver a lecture.
Delivery
Utterance or enunciation
The historic speech required but two minutes in delivery.
Deliver
To give birth to
She delivered a baby boy this morning.
Delivery
The act or manner of speaking or singing
A folk singer's casual delivery.
Deliver
To assist or aid in the birth of
The midwife delivered the baby.
Delivery
The act of releasing or rescuing.
Deliver
To assist (a woman) in giving birth
The doctor delivered her of twins.
Delivery
The act of conveying something.
The delivery was completed by four.
Delivery of a nuclear missile to its target
Deliver
To give forth or produce
An oil well that delivered thousands of barrels a day.
Delivery
The item which has been conveyed.
Your delivery is on the table.
Deliver
To set free, as from captivity, peril, or evil
Deliver a captive from slavery.
Delivery
The act of giving birth
The delivery was painful.
Deliver
To set free from restraint or danger.
Deliver a captive from the prison
Delivery
(baseball) A pitching motion.
His delivery has a catch in it.
Deliver
(process) To do with birth.
Delivery
(baseball) A thrown pitch.
Here is the delivery; ... strike three!
Deliver
To assist in the birth of.
The doctor delivered the baby
Delivery
The manner of speaking.
The actor's delivery was flawless.
Deliver
To assist (a female) in bearing, that is, in bringing forth (a child).
The duchess was delivered of a son
The doctor is expected to deliver her of a daughter tomorrow
Delivery
(medicine) The administration of a drug.
Drug delivery system
Deliver
To give birth to.
She delivered a baby boy yesterday
Delivery
(cricket) A ball bowled.
Deliver
To free from or disburden of anything.
Delivery
(curling) The process of throwing a stone.
Deliver
To bring or transport something to its destination.
Deliver a package
Deliver the mail
Delivery
(genetics) Process of introducing foreign DNA into host cells.
Deliver
To hand over or surrender (someone or something) to another.
Deliver the thief to the police
Delivery
(football) A cross or pass
Deliver
To produce what is expected or required.
Delivery
The act of delivering from restraint; rescue; release; liberation; as, the delivery of a captive from his dungeon.
Deliver
To express in words or vocalizations, declare, utter, or vocalize.
Deliver a speech
Delivery
The act of delivering up or over; surrender; transfer of the body or substance of a thing; distribution; as, the delivery of a fort, of hostages, of a criminal, of goods, of letters.
Deliver
To give forth in action or exercise; to discharge.
To deliver a blow
Delivery
The act or style of utterance; manner of speaking; as, a good delivery; a clear delivery.
Deliver
To discover; to show.
Delivery
The act of giving birth; parturition; the expulsion or extraction of a fetus and its membranes.
Deliver
(medicine) To administer a drug.
Delivery
The act of exerting one's strength or limbs.
Neater limbs and freer delivery.
Deliver
(rare) Capable, agile, or active.
Delivery
The act or manner of delivering a ball; as, the pitcher has a swift delivery.
Deliver
To set free from restraint; to set at liberty; to release; to liberate, as from control; to give up; to free; to save; to rescue from evil actual or feared; - often with from or out of; as, to deliver one from captivity, or from fear of death.
He that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
Promise was that IShould Israel from Philistian yoke deliver.
Delivery
The act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail);
His reluctant delivery of bad news
Deliver
To give or transfer; to yield possession or control of; to part with (to); to make over; to commit; to surrender; to resign; - often with up or over, to or into.
Thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand.
The constables have delivered her over.
The exalted mindAll sense of woe delivers to the wind.
Delivery
The event of giving birth;
She had a difficult delivery
Deliver
To make over to the knowledge of another; to communicate; to utter; to speak; to impart.
Till he these words to him deliver might.
Whereof the former delivers the precepts of the art, and the latter the perfection.
Delivery
Your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally;
His manner of speaking was quite abrupt
Her speech was barren of southernisms
I detected a slight accent in his speech
Deliver
To give forth in action or exercise; to discharge; as, to deliver a blow; to deliver a broadside, or a ball.
Shaking his head and delivering some show of tears.
An uninstructed bowler . . . thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straightforward upon it.
Delivery
The voluntary transfer of something (title or possession) from one party to another
Deliver
To free from, or disburden of, young; to relieve of a child in childbirth; to bring forth; - often with of.
She was delivered safe and soon.
Tully was long ere he could be delivered of a few verses, and those poor ones.
Delivery
(baseball) the throwing of a baseball by a pitcher to a batter
Deliver
To discover; to show.
I 'll deliverMyself your loyal servant.
Delivery
Recovery or preservation from loss or danger;
Work is the deliverance of mankind
A surgeon's job is the saving of lives
Deliver
To deliberate.
Delivery
The act of delivering a child
Deliver
To admit; to allow to pass.
Delivery
The act of transporting goods to a designated location.
The delivery of the package was prompt.
Deliver
Free; nimble; sprightly; active.
Wonderly deliver and great of strength.
Delivery
The manner of presenting or expressing something.
His delivery of the speech was captivating.
Deliver
Deliver (a speech, oration, or idea);
The commencement speaker presented a forceful speech that impressed the students
Deliver
Bring to a destination, make a delivery;
Our local super market delivers
Deliver
To surrender someone or something to another;
The guard delivered the criminal to the police
Render up the prisoners
Render the town to the enemy
Fork over the money
Deliver
Free from harm or evil
Deliver
Hand over to the authorities of another country;
They extradited the fugitive to his native country so he could be tried there
Deliver
Pass down;
Render a verdict
Deliver a judgment
Deliver
Utter (an exclamation, noise, etc.);
The students delivered a cry of joy
Deliver
Save from sins
Deliver
Carry out or perform;
Deliver an attack
Deliver a blow
The boxer drove home a solid left
Deliver
Relinquish possession or control over;
The squatters had to surrender the building after the police moved in
Deliver
Throw or hurl from the mound to the batter, as in baseball;
The pitcher delivered the ball
Deliver
Give birth (to a newborn);
My wife had twins yesterday!
Deliver
To carry and turn over goods or letters to the intended recipient.
He will deliver the mail by noon.
FAQs
Is to deliver an action?
Yes, to deliver is a verb representing the action of handing over or presenting something.
Can delivery refer to giving birth?
Yes, delivery can refer to the process of giving birth.
Is delivery a noun or a verb?
Delivery is a noun, representing the act or process of delivering.
Can one deliver a speech?
Absolutely, to deliver can mean to present or utter a speech.
Is the focus of delivery on the outcome?
Yes, delivery often focuses on the successful handover or presentation of something.
Does a delivery always involve goods?
No, delivery can involve goods, services, speeches, or even refer to childbirth.
Can delivery be used in sports terminology?
Yes, for example, in baseball, delivery refers to a pitch thrown to the batter.
Is delivery used in logistic operations?
Absolutely, delivery is a key term used in logistics to denote the handover of goods or items.
Can deliver imply accomplishing a task?
Yes, to deliver can mean to achieve a desired effect or accomplish a task.
Does deliver focus on the action process?
Yes, deliver primarily focuses on the action and process of handing over or presenting.
Can the term delivery relate to medical contexts?
Yes, delivery is used in medical contexts to refer to childbirth.
Can the success of delivery be measured?
Yes, the success of a delivery can often be measured by its timeliness and the condition of the delivered items.
Can we use deliver to denote expressing thoughts?
Certainly, deliver can be used to denote the expression or presentation of thoughts or speeches.
Can deliver refer to producing results?
Yes, deliver can mean to produce or achieve a desired effect or result.
Is deliver always about physical items?
No, deliver can refer to presenting ideas, achieving results, and more, not just handing over physical items.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
