Cool MateDeliver vs We turned them over to
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Deliver
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
We turned them over to
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Deliver
| Deliver | We turned them over to | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈlɪvə(r)/","/dɪˈlɪvəz/","/dɪˈlɪvəd/","/dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈlɪvər/","/dɪˈlɪvərz/","/dɪˈlɪvərd/","/dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wiː tɜːnd ðɛm ˈəʊvə tʊ//🇺🇸 //wi tɜrn ðɛm ˈoʊvər tʊ// |
| Meaning | to bring something to someone | We gave them to someone else. |
| Example | The courier will deliver the package by noon. | We turned them over to the authorities after the incident. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less 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 | turn over evidence, turn over information, turn over documents, turn over suspects, turn over control |
| Antonyms | receive, withhold, retain | - |
| 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 'turn them in' which means to submit something., Using 'to' when it should be 'for' in some contexts., Misunderstanding the passive meaning. |
| 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. | Use 'turn over' in situations where you're formally or informally passing responsibility or possession. Avoid using in casual, everyday conversation unless context is clear. |
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Frequently asked questions: Deliver vs We turned them over to
What's the difference between Deliver and We turned them over to?
Deliver: to bring something to someone We turned them over to: We gave them to someone else.
Which is more common: Deliver and We turned them over to?
Deliver is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Deliver: The courier will deliver the package by noon. We turned them over to: We turned them over to the authorities after the incident.
Can I use Deliver and We turned them over to interchangeably?
Not always. Deliver and We turned them over to 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.