deliver

/dɪˈlɪvə(ɹ)/

//dɪˈlɪvə(ɹ)// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"deliver" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“deliver” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,724 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#2,724
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
12
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To set free from restraint or danger.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

deliver vs diver
71% similar
deliver vs delve
71% similar
deliver vs driver
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for deliver
PropertyValue
Headworddeliver
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/dɪˈlɪvə(ɹ)/
Letters7
Frequency rank#2,724
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs12
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “deliver” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). deliver lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for deliver is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪˈlɪvə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,724 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 12 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for deliver, with forms such as "ddeliver", "deilver", and "delievr". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 12 confusable-pair relationships, "diver", "delve", "driver", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English deliveren, from Anglo-Norman and Old French delivrer, from Latin dē + līberō (“to set free”). Compare typologically dispatch, analyzable as dis- + impeach, from Latin impedicō (also akin to impede). The correct English form is deliver, spelled D-E-L-I-V-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    To set free from restraint or danger.
  2. 2
    Senses having to do with birth.
  3. 3
    Senses having to do with birth.
  4. 4
    Senses having to do with birth.
  5. 5
    To free from or disburden of anything.
  6. 6
    To bring or transport something to its destination.
  7. 7
    To hand over or surrender (someone or something) to another.
  8. 8
    To produce what is expected or required.
  9. 9
    To express in words or vocalizations, declare, utter, or vocalize.
  10. 10
    To give forth in action or exercise; to discharge.
  11. 11
    To discover; to show.
  12. 12
    To administer a drug.

Etymology

From Middle English deliveren, from Anglo-Norman and Old French delivrer, from Latin dē + līberō (“to set free”). Compare typologically dispatch, analyzable as dis- + impeach, from Latin impedicō (also akin to impede).

Synonyms

freelooseridoutbringutteroutbringcome throughcome up with the goods

This word in other languages

liberar(Español)délivrer(Français)erlösen(Deutsch)libertar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddeliver,deilver,delievr,deliverr,delivre,delivver,delliver,delvier,dleiver,edliver

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of deliver - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ddeliver1deilver2delievr2deliverr1delivre2delivver1delliver1delvier2
Edit distance from "deliver"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "deliver"?
"deliver" is spelled D-E-L-I-V-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈlɪvə(ɹ)/.
What does "deliver" mean?
As a verb, "deliver" means: To set free from restraint or danger.
What words are commonly confused with "deliver"?
"deliver" is commonly confused with "diver", "delve", "driver". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "deliver"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "deliver" is /dɪˈlɪvə(ɹ)/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "deliver"?
From Middle English deliveren, from Anglo-Norman and Old French delivrer, from Latin dē + līberō (“to set free”). Compare typologically dispatch, analyzable as dis- + impeach, from Latin impedicō (also akin to impede). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “deliver”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-L-I-V-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪˈlɪvə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “diver” - see the side-by-side comparison. deliver vs diver
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list