meet a deadline

Meaning

This collocation means to finish a task, project, or assignment by or before the agreed-upon time limit. It is highly common in workplaces, schools, and creative industries. Failing to do so is referred to as 'missing a deadline'.

Examples

• We had to work overtime all week just to meet a deadline.

  We had to work overtime all week just to meet a deadline.

• She is a reliable employee who always manages to meet a deadline.

  She is a reliable employee who always manages to meet a deadline.

• If we don't meet a deadline, we might lose this valuable client.

  If we don't meet a deadline, we might lose this valuable client.

• It's difficult to meet a deadline when the requirements keep changing.

  It's difficult to meet a deadline when the requirements keep changing.

• The team celebrated after they successfully managed to meet a deadline.

  The team celebrated after they successfully managed to meet a deadline.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We must match the deadline.

  ✓ We must meet the deadline.

  The correct verb to pair with 'deadline' is 'meet', not 'match'.

• ✗ I struggled to meet with the deadline.

  ✓ I struggled to meet the deadline.

  Do not use 'with' after 'meet' in this context; 'meet' directly takes 'deadline' as its object.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The team is working late tonight to ___.

  💡 Finish the work before the time limit.

  Show answer

  meet a deadline

• Do you think we have enough resources to ___ by Friday?

  💡 Complete the task on time.

  Show answer

  meet a deadline