Meaning & use
meeting a deadline
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
The act of finishing a task or producing something by the required time or date.
Grammar: This is the -ing form of 'meet a deadline'. It often appears as a subject or after a preposition.
Patterns
- meeting a deadline
- have trouble meeting a deadline
- meeting a deadline for something
Meeting a deadline requires careful planning and time management.
She is responsible for meeting a deadline for the project proposal.
Meeting a deadline can be stressful, but it is essential in many jobs.
Common combinations
- meeting a tight deadline
- Meeting a tight deadline means working extra hours.
- meeting a deadline for
- We are meeting a deadline for the report on Friday.
- responsible for meeting a deadline
- The team is responsible for meeting a deadline every month.
- struggle with meeting a deadline
- Many students struggle with meeting a deadline when they have several assignments.
Synonyms and how they differ
- finishing on time
- More general; it can refer to any activity, not just tasks with a set deadline.
- beating the clock
- Informal and emphasizes speed or urgency rather than simply meeting a requirement.
Opposites
Word family
- meet a deadline phrase
- The base form meaning to finish something by the required time.
- deadline noun
- The time or date by which something must be finished.
Commonly confused: meeting a deadline or deadline?
meeting a deadline vs deadline
A deadline is the time limit itself, while meeting a deadline is the action of finishing by that time.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'meeting a deadline' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct preposition after 'deadline' is 'for' when talking about the task. 'To', 'on', and 'at' are not used in this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “meeting a deadline”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.