Dictionary.com

deliberate

[ adjective dih-lib-er-it; verb dih-lib-uh-reyt ]
/ adjective dɪˈlɪb ər ɪt; verb dɪˈlɪb əˌreɪt /
Save This Word!
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.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!

Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between it’s and its in this crafty quiz!
Question 1 of 12
On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.
it's
its
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 FROM deliberate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to deliberate

premeditated, careful, conscious, purposeful, calculated, studious, cold-blooded, thoughtful, cautious, willful, prudent, meticulous, ponder, consider, reflect, contemplate, consult, weigh, mull over, studied

Example sentences from the Web for deliberate

British Dictionary definitions for deliberate

deliberate

adjective (dɪˈlɪbərɪt)

carefully thought out in advance; planned; studied; intentionala deliberate insult
careful or unhurried in speech or actiona deliberate pace

verb (dɪˈlɪbəˌreɪt)

to consider (something) deeply; ponder; think over

Derived forms of deliberate

deliberately, adverbdeliberateness, noundeliberator, noun

Word Origin for deliberate

C15: from Latin dēlīberāre to consider well, from lībrāre to weigh, from lībra scales
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
Hate Typos? Get Grammar Coach