dead ‧ line /ˈdedlaɪn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
a date or time by which you have to do or complete something
deadline for
He missed the deadline for applications.
deadline of
It has to be in before the deadline of July 1st.
I'm always working under pressure to meet deadlines (=finish something on time) .
set/impose a deadline
They've set a deadline of 12 noon.
a tight/strict deadline (=one that must be met but is difficult)
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a deadline
It's easier to work hard if you have a deadline.
▪ work to a deadline (=have to finish something by a deadline)
We're all under pressure and working to deadlines.
▪ meet a deadline (=finish something by a deadline)
Everyone's working extremely hard to meet the deadline.
▪ miss a deadline (=fail to finish something by a deadline)
There will be penalties if the government misses the deadline to cut air pollution.
▪ set a deadline (=decide on a date when something must be finished)
The deadline has been set at January 31st.
▪ extend a deadline (=make the date or time later than it was before)
My editor agreed to extend the deadline by two weeks.
▪ a deadline approaches/looms
Things began to get more frantic as the deadline loomed.
▪ a deadline passes (=the date or time by which you must do something goes past)
The deadline had already passed for him to raise the money.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + deadline
▪ a strict deadline (=a time or date when something must definitely be finished)
We're working to a very strict deadline.
▪ a tight deadline (=one that is difficult because it does not allow much time to do something)
As a journalist, you have to be able to work to tight deadlines.
▪ the Friday/December etc deadline
The project went on long after the December deadline.