deliberately
Americanadverb
-
on purpose; with clear intent.
Is this just bad journalism, or an attempt to deliberately mislead the public?
-
with careful thought or consideration.
The board is committed to moving deliberately on this important initiative.
-
in a calm and unhurried way.
He was careful to move slowly and deliberately so as not to scare them off.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of deliberately
Explanation
Deliberately means on purpose. For example, you may have noticed how the schoolyard bully deliberately chose to pick on the smallest kids at recess. The adverb deliberately originates from the Latin word deliberatus, meaning "resolved upon, determined." Used to describe an action made intentionally, it can also mean doing something in a careful, thoughtful manner. You probably cringed when the pitcher deliberately hurled the ball into the star batter's leg so he would walk rather than hitting another home run. Or perhaps you witnessed a college professor stroking his beard deliberately in response to a classmate's challenging question.
Vocabulary lists containing deliberately
"Of Mice and Men"
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Touching Spirit Bear
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The Devil's Arithmetic
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The peak deliberately falls short of the 177 metres of Barcelona's Montjuic hill -- an act of religious respect from Gaudi who believed the hill was the work of God.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
Deng deliberately kept term limits vague at the top, Pei noted.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Roberto Sanchez, locked in a neck-and-neck contest with conservative rival Keiko Fujimori, struck a deliberately cautious tone when asked about the often bruising US leader.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
More beings will appear too and cinematographer Jeremy Cox’s deliberately low-fi look forces you to do triple and quadruple takes to comprehend what you’re even seeing.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
"When I made my report two days ago," he continued, "I deliberately refrained from mentioning that we have the remains of the plane—and we also have the pilot, who is quite alive and kicking!"
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
