Cool MateDeliver vs Sending
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Deliver
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Sending
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Deliver | Sending | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈlɪvə(r)/","/dɪˈlɪvəz/","/dɪˈlɪvəd/","/dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈlɪvər/","/dɪˈlɪvərz/","/dɪˈlɪvərd/","/dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈsɛndɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈsɛndɪŋ// |
| Meaning | to bring something to someone | To cause something to go to a place, usually by mail or electronically. |
| Example | The courier will deliver the package by noon. | I am sending the package tomorrow. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | free of charge, by hand, personally, to, by, via, have something delivered, consistently, effectively, efficiently, on, safely, by Caesarean, by Caesarean section, safely, by Caesarean, by Caesarean section | sending messages, sending files, sending emails, sending love, sending signals |
| Antonyms | receive, withhold, retain | receiving |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'devour' — both start with 'd,' but have different meanings., Using 'delivered' intransitively — 'deliver' needs an object., Saying 'delivering to' without specifying the recipient. | Confused with 'sending to' vs 'sending for'., Using 'send' instead of 'sending' in continuous tenses., Incorrectly using the past form instead of present continuous. |
| Usage notes | Used when giving items, messages, or services. Appropriate in most contexts, but avoid in very casual speech. In formal writing, specify what is being delivered. | Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Appropriate for emails, messages, and deliveries, but avoid in highly formal documents without context. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Deliver vs Sending
What's the difference between Deliver and Sending?
Deliver: to bring something to someone Sending: To cause something to go to a place, usually by mail or electronically.
Can you show an example of each?
Deliver: The courier will deliver the package by noon. Sending: I am sending the package tomorrow.
Can I use Deliver and Sending interchangeably?
Not always. Deliver and Sending are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.