Send vs. Deliver — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 21, 2024
Send means to cause something to go from one place to another, usually through a third party. Deliver means to bring something to a specific place or person, often directly.
Difference Between Send and Deliver
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Send involves initiating the process of moving something from one place to another, often through an intermediary like mail or courier services. Deliver, on the other hand, focuses on the act of bringing something to its intended recipient or destination, often implying a more direct and personal involvement.
When discussing communication, send typically refers to transmitting messages or information, such as sending an email or letter. Deliver is used when referring to presenting or giving a speech, message, or product directly to someone.
In the context of logistics, send implies dispatching an item through a delivery service or postal system. Deliver emphasizes the final step of the process, ensuring the item reaches its intended recipient.
Send is broader and can apply to various forms of transfer, including digital and physical. Deliver specifically highlights the completion of the transfer, often involving a handover to the recipient.
When used as verbs, send can be a more general term for initiating the transfer, whereas deliver focuses on the act of fulfillment and receipt of the item or message.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Definition
Cause something to go from one place to another
Bring something to a specific place or person
Communication
Transmit messages or information
Present or give a speech, message, or product
Logistics
Dispatch an item through a service
Ensure the item reaches the recipient
Scope
Broader, includes digital and physical transfers
Specific, highlights completion and handover
Verb Focus
Initiating the transfer
Act of fulfillment and receipt
Compare with Definitions
Send
Cause something to go from one place to another.
I need to send this package to New York.
Deliver
Bring something to a specific place or person.
The courier will deliver the package by noon.
Send
Instruct someone to go somewhere.
The coach sent the players onto the field.
Deliver
Assist in the birth of a baby.
The doctor delivered the baby safely.
Send
To cause to be conveyed by an intermediary to a destination
Send goods by plane.
Deliver
Provide or distribute services or products.
The company delivers groceries to customers' homes.
Send
To dispatch, as by a communications medium
Send a message by radio.
Deliver
To bring or transport to the proper place or recipient; distribute
Deliver groceries.
Deliver the mail.
Send
To direct to go on a mission
Sent troops into the Middle East.
Deliver
To surrender (someone or something) to another; hand over
Delivered the criminal to the police.
Send
To require or enable to go
Sent her children to college.
Deliver
To secure (something promised or desired), as for a candidate or political party
Campaign workers who delivered the ward for the mayor.
Send
To direct (a person) to a source of information; refer
Sent the student to the reference section of the library.
Deliver
To throw or hurl
The pitcher delivered the ball.
Send
To give off (heat, for example); emit or issue
A stove that sends forth great warmth.
Deliver
To strike (a blow).
Send
To utter or otherwise emit (sound)
Sent forth a cry of pain.
Deliver
To express in words; declare or utter
Deliver a lecture.
Send
To hit so as to direct or propel with force; drive
The batter sent the ball to left field. The slap on my back sent me staggering.
Deliver
To give birth to
She delivered a baby boy this morning.
Send
To cause to take place or occur
We will meet whatever vicissitudes fate may send.
Deliver
To assist or aid in the birth of
The midwife delivered the baby.
Send
To put or drive into a given state or condition
Horrifying news that sent them into a panic.
Deliver
To assist (a woman) in giving birth
The doctor delivered her of twins.
Send
(Slang) To transport with delight; carry away
That music really sends me.
Deliver
To give forth or produce
An oil well that delivered thousands of barrels a day.
Send
To dispatch someone to do an errand or convey a message
Let's send out for hamburgers.
Deliver
To set free, as from captivity, peril, or evil
Deliver a captive from slavery.
Send
To dispatch a request or order, especially by mail
Send away for a new catalogue.
Deliver
To set free from restraint or danger.
Deliver a captive from the prison
Send
To transmit a message or messages
The radio operator was still sending when the ship went down.
Deliver
(process) To do with birth.
Send
Variant of scend.
Deliver
To assist in the birth of.
The doctor delivered the baby
Send
To make something (such as an object or message) go from one place to another (or to someone).
Every day at two o'clock, he sends his secretary out to buy him a coffee.
She sends me a letter every month.
Deliver
To assist (a female) in bearing, that is, in bringing forth (a child).
The duchess was delivered of a son
The doctor is expected to deliver her of a daughter tomorrow
Send
To excite, delight, or thrill (someone).
Deliver
To give birth to.
She delivered a baby boy yesterday
Send
(transitive) To bring to a certain condition.
Deliver
To free from or disburden of anything.
Send
To dispatch an agent or messenger to convey a message or do an errand.
Seeing how ill she was, we sent for a doctor at once.
Deliver
To bring or transport something to its destination.
Deliver a package
Deliver the mail
Send
(transitive) To cause to be or to happen; to bring, bring about; (archaic) to visit: (Referring to blessing or reward) To bestow; to grant. (Referring to curse or punishment) To inflict. Sometimes followed by a dependent proposition.
Deliver
To hand over or surrender (someone or something) to another.
Deliver the thief to the police
Send
To pitch.
Deliver
To produce what is expected or required.
Send
To make a successful ascent of a sport climbing route.
She finally sent the 12a after hours of failed attempts.
Deliver
To express in words or vocalizations, declare, utter, or vocalize.
Deliver a speech
Send
To care.
Deliver
To give forth in action or exercise; to discharge.
To deliver a blow
Send
(telecommunications) An operation in which data is transmitted.
Deliver
To discover; to show.
Send
An icon (usually on a computer screen and labeled with the word "Send") on which one clicks (with a mouse or its equivalent) or taps to transmit an email or other electronic message.
Good thing I didn't hit send on that resume; I just noticed a bad typo.
Deliver
(medicine) To administer a drug.
Send
(nautical) scend
Deliver
(rare) Capable, agile, or active.
Send
(Scotland) A messenger, especially one sent to fetch the bride.
Deliver
To set free from restraint; to set at liberty; to release; to liberate, as from control; to give up; to free; to save; to rescue from evil actual or feared; - often with from or out of; as, to deliver one from captivity, or from fear of death.
He that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
Promise was that IShould Israel from Philistian yoke deliver.
Send
A callout or diss usually aimed at a specific person, often in the form of a diss track.
Deliver
To give or transfer; to yield possession or control of; to part with (to); to make over; to commit; to surrender; to resign; - often with up or over, to or into.
Thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand.
The constables have delivered her over.
The exalted mindAll sense of woe delivers to the wind.
Send
(climbing) A successful ascent of a sport climbing route.
Deliver
To make over to the knowledge of another; to communicate; to utter; to speak; to impart.
Till he these words to him deliver might.
Whereof the former delivers the precepts of the art, and the latter the perfection.
Send
To cause to go in any manner; to dispatch; to commission or direct to go; as, to send a messenger.
I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran.
I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Servants, sent on messages, stay out somewhat longer than the message requires.
Deliver
To give forth in action or exercise; to discharge; as, to deliver a blow; to deliver a broadside, or a ball.
Shaking his head and delivering some show of tears.
An uninstructed bowler . . . thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straightforward upon it.
Send
To give motion to; to cause to be borne or carried; to procure the going, transmission, or delivery of; as, to send a message.
He . . . sent letters by posts on horseback.
O send out thy light an thy truth; let them lead me.
Deliver
To free from, or disburden of, young; to relieve of a child in childbirth; to bring forth; - often with of.
She was delivered safe and soon.
Tully was long ere he could be delivered of a few verses, and those poor ones.
Send
To emit; to impel; to cast; to throw; to hurl; as, to send a ball, an arrow, or the like.
Deliver
To discover; to show.
I 'll deliverMyself your loyal servant.
Send
To cause to be or to happen; to bestow; to inflict; to grant; - sometimes followed by a dependent proposition.
The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke.
And sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
God send your mission may bring back peace.
Deliver
To deliberate.
Send
To dispatch an agent or messenger to convey a message, or to do an errand.
See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away my head?
Deliver
To admit; to allow to pass.
Send
To pitch; as, the ship sends forward so violently as to endanger her masts.
Deliver
Free; nimble; sprightly; active.
Wonderly deliver and great of strength.
Send
The impulse of a wave by which a vessel is carried bodily.
Deliver
Deliver (a speech, oration, or idea);
The commencement speaker presented a forceful speech that impressed the students
Send
Cause to go somewhere;
The explosion sent the car flying in the air
She sent her children to camp
He directed all his energies into his dissertation
Deliver
Bring to a destination, make a delivery;
Our local super market delivers
Send
To cause or order to be taken, directed, or transmitted to another place;
He had sent the dispatches downtown to the proper people and had slept
Deliver
To surrender someone or something to another;
The guard delivered the criminal to the police
Render up the prisoners
Render the town to the enemy
Fork over the money
Send
Cause to be directed or transmitted to another place;
Send me your latest results
I'll mail you the paper when it's written
Deliver
Free from harm or evil
Send
Transport commercially
Deliver
Hand over to the authorities of another country;
They extradited the fugitive to his native country so he could be tried there
Send
Assign to a station
Deliver
Pass down;
Render a verdict
Deliver a judgment
Send
Transfer;
The spy sent the classified information off to Russia
Deliver
Utter (an exclamation, noise, etc.);
The students delivered a cry of joy
Send
Cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution;
After the second episode, she had to be committed
He was committed to prison
Deliver
Save from sins
Send
Broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television;
We cannot air this X-rated song
Deliver
Carry out or perform;
Deliver an attack
Deliver a blow
The boxer drove home a solid left
Send
Transmit messages or information.
She sent an email to her boss.
Deliver
Relinquish possession or control over;
The squatters had to surrender the building after the police moved in
Send
Dispatch or convey through an intermediary.
He sent flowers through a delivery service.
Deliver
Throw or hurl from the mound to the batter, as in baseball;
The pitcher delivered the ball
Send
Emit or give out signals.
The device sends out a GPS signal.
Deliver
Give birth (to a newborn);
My wife had twins yesterday!
Deliver
Present or hand over formally.
She delivered a speech at the conference.
Deliver
Fulfill or carry out a promise or task.
He delivered on his campaign promises.
Common Curiosities
Can 'send' refer to digital transfers?
Yes, send can refer to digital transfers like sending emails or files.
What does 'deliver' imply in a business context?
Deliver implies fulfilling orders or services, ensuring they reach the customer.
Does 'deliver' involve personal involvement?
Often, yes, as it implies bringing something directly to the recipient.
Is 'deliver' more specific than 'send'?
Yes, deliver is more specific as it highlights the act of bringing something to its destination.
Can 'send' involve intermediaries?
Yes, send often involves intermediaries like postal or courier services.
Is 'deliver' focused on the end result?
Yes, deliver focuses on the completion and receipt of the item or message.
What does 'send' mean in communication?
Send refers to transmitting messages or information, like emails or letters.
Does 'send' have a broader application than 'deliver'?
Yes, send can apply to a wider range of transfers, both digital and physical.
How does 'deliver' differ from 'send' in logistics?
Deliver emphasizes the final step of bringing an item to its recipient, while send involves dispatching the item through a service.
Can 'deliver' be used in medical contexts?
Yes, deliver can refer to assisting in childbirth.
Is 'send' used for initiating or completing a transfer?
Send is used for initiating a transfer.
Can 'send' be used for instructions?
Yes, send can instruct someone to go somewhere or perform a task.
What does 'deliver a speech' mean?
It means presenting or giving a speech to an audience.
What does 'send a signal' mean?
It means to emit or give out a signal, such as a radio or GPS signal.
What does 'deliver on a promise' mean?
It means fulfilling or carrying out a promise.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
