deliberate

[ adjective dih-lib-er-it; verb dih-lib-uh-reyt ]

See synonyms for: deliberate deliberated deliberates deliberating on Thesaurus.com

adjective

carefully weighed or considered; studied; intentional: a deliberate lie.
characterized by deliberation or cautious consideration; careful or slow in deciding: Moving away from the city and all its advantages required a deliberate decision.

leisurely and steady in movement or action; slow and even; unhurried: moving with a deliberate step.

verb (used with object),de·lib·er·at·ed, de·lib·er·at·ing.

to weigh in the mind; consider: to deliberate a question.

verb (used without object),de·lib·er·at·ed, de·lib·er·at·ing.

to think carefully or attentively; reflect: She deliberated for a long time before giving her decision.
to consult or confer formally: The jury deliberated for three hours.

Origin of deliberate

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dēlīberātus (past participle of dēlīberāre “to consider”), equivalent to dē- “from, away from” + līber(āre) “to balance, weigh” (derivative of lībra “balance, scales”) + -ātus past participle suffix; see de-, -ate¹

synonym study For deliberate

1. Deliberate, intentional, premeditated, voluntary refer to something not happening by chance. Deliberate is applied to what is done not hastily but with full realization of what one is doing: a deliberate attempt to evade justice. Intentional is applied to what is definitely intended or done on purpose: an intentional omission. Premeditated is applied to what has been planned in advance: a premeditated crime. Voluntary is applied to what is done by a definite exercise of the will and not because of outward pressures: a voluntary enlistment. 3. See slow.

Other words for deliberate

1	conscious, purposive; willful
2	methodical, thoughtful, circumspect, cautious
4	ponder
5	cogitate, ruminate

See synonyms for deliberate on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for deliberate

1	accidental
2	impulsive, precipitate, rash

See antonyms for deliberate on Thesaurus.com

Other words from deliberate

de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverb
de·lib·er·ate·ness, noun
de·lib·er·a·tor, noun
non·de·lib·er·ate, adjective
non·de·lib·er·ate·ness, noun
o·ver·de·lib·er·ate, verb, o·ver·de·lib·er·at·ed, o·ver·de·lib·er·at·ing.
o·ver·de·lib·er·ate, adjective
o·ver·de·lib·er·ate·ness, noun
pre·de·lib·er·ate, verb (used with object), pre·de·lib·er·at·ed, pre·de·lib·er·at·ing.
pre·de·lib·er·ate, adjective
qua·si-de·lib·er·ate, adjective
re·de·lib·er·ate, verb, re·de·lib·er·at·ed, re·de·lib·er·at·ing.
un·de·lib·er·ate, adjective
un·de·lib·er·ate·ness, noun
un·de·lib·er·at·ing, adjective
un·de·lib·er·at·ing·ly, adverb
well-de·lib·er·at·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use deliberate in a sentence

People can also choose from several preset schedules if they don’t want to spend too much time deliberating.
Google’s new Nest Thermostat is geared toward smart-home newbies | jonathanvanian2015 | October 12, 2020 | Fortune
The omission was deliberate, according to Howard Simon, the former executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, who helped write the amendment.
In Florida, the Gutting of a Landmark Law Leaves Few Felons Likely to Vote | by Lawrence Mower and Langston Taylor, Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times | October 7, 2020 | ProPublica
In corals there’s some evidence of a deliberate process—not with regard to bacteria, but algae.
When Evolution Is Infectious - Issue 90: Something Green | Moises Velasquez-Manoff | September 30, 2020 | Nautilus
Without deliberate and immediate efforts by democratic governments to win back agency, corporate and authoritarian governance models will erode democracy everywhere.
How democracies can claim back power in the digital world | Amy Nordrum | September 29, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
As the school system deliberated, Baltimore, which had seen lower numbers of cases early in the pandemic than many cities on the East Coast, started to see an increase.
The Students Left Behind by Remote Learning | by Alec MacGillis | September 28, 2020 | ProPublica

After deliberating for just under four hours, the jurors informed the judge that they were unable to reach a verdict.
He Faces Jail for Rescuing Baby Eagles | Michael Daly | November 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Jurors instead decided to keep deliberating—and returned with the not-guilty verdict a few hours later.
Who Is Angela Corey? From Being Fired to Prosecuting Zimmerman | Caroline Linton | July 15, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Another good friend who is studying to become a tour guide had been deliberating between Labor and Yair Lapid.
Voting By Process Of Elimination | Elisheva Goldberg | January 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The three-judge panel (which happens to be all-female) agreed after deliberating for nearly four hours.
Ruby the Heart Stealer in Court for Berlusconi Trial | Barbie Latza Nadeau | January 15, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
After deliberating for about a day, 11 women and one man sentenced Forde to death in Pima County Superior Court on Tuesday.
Shawna Forde Sentenced to Death | Terry Greene Sterling | February 22, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
"We won't waste time by an elaborate toilet, dear," said Carry, seeing Ida deliberating upon two dresses.
Alone | Marion Harland
Whilst we spend our time in deliberating on the mode of governing two millions, we shall find we have millions more to manage.
English: Composition and Literature | W. F. (William Franklin) Webster
Human nature cannot stand this always; and it is time there were an end of deliberating.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. VII. (of XXI.) | Thomas Carlyle
Presently they lost sight of him, and stood bewildered; but while they were deliberating they heard his voice.
Rhoda Fleming, Complete | George Meredith
In the morning I was deliberating what palace I should inhabit, before night I was reduced to seek my lodging in the street.
The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, Complete | Jean Jacques Rousseau

British Dictionary definitions for deliberate

deliberate

adjective(dɪˈlɪbərɪt)

carefully thought out in advance; planned; studied; intentional: a deliberate insult
careful or unhurried in speech or action: a deliberate pace

verb(dɪˈlɪbəˌreɪt)

to consider (something) deeply; ponder; think over

Origin of deliberate

C15: from Latin dēlīberāre to consider well, from lībrāre to weigh, from lībra scales

Derived forms of deliberate

deliberately, adverb
deliberateness, noun
deliberator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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