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
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.
Arteta has tweaked Saka's positioning this season and, prior to Lille's visit, said it has been done deliberately to get him closer to the goal.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
The technology is decidedly futuristic, but the company has deliberately preserved a person at the point of service.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
Analysts at consulting firm Eurasia Group said this week they expect Iran to continue targeting shipping in an effort to undermine U.S. gains rather than deliberately seek a full-scale confrontation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The short seven-day training period was chosen deliberately.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
She marched deliberately into the church, walked “with the air of a queen” up the aisle, and sat on the steps to the pulpit.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
