deliberate

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deliberate 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

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin dēlīberātus (past participle of dēlīberāre to consider), equivalent to dē- de- + līber(āre) to balance, weigh (derivative of lībra balance, scales) + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsde·lib·er·ate·ly, adverbde·lib·er·ate·ness, nounde·lib·er·a·tor, nounnon·de·lib·er·ate, adjectivenon·de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverbnon·de·lib·er·ate·ness, nouno·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, adjectiveo·ver·de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverbo·ver·de·lib·er·ate·ness, nounpre·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, adjectivepre·de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverbqua·si-de·lib·er·ate, adjectivequa·si-de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverbre·de·lib·er·ate, verb, re·de·lib·er·at·ed, re·de·lib·er·at·ing.un·de·lib·er·ate, adjectiveun·de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverbun·de·lib·er·ate·ness, nounun·de·lib·er·at·ing, adjectiveun·de·lib·er·at·ing·ly, adverbwell-de·lib·er·at·ed, adjective

Synonyms for deliberate

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deliberate ON THESAURUS.COM

1. purposeful; willful. 2. methodical, thoughtful, circumspect, cautious. 4. ponder. 5. cogitate, ruminate.

Synonym study

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.

Antonyms for deliberate

1. accidental. 2. impulsive, precipitate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for deliberating

ponder, consider, reflect, contemplate, consult, weigh, speculate, cerebrate, study, muse, roll, ruminate, reason, meditate, excogitate, revolve, judge, cogitate, argue, debate

Examples from the Web for deliberating

Contemporary Examples of deliberating

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
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 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
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

Historical Examples of deliberating

I am very well,' replied Mr Merdle, after deliberating about it. '
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens
Mr. Galloway walked to the outer door, deliberating what his course should be.
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood
Is this a slight matter about which you and Lysimachus are deliberating?
Laches
Plato
Do you mean to say you had been deliberating with yourself whether you would die?
Lord Jim
Joseph Conrad
"I guess not," Rankin replied slowly, as if deliberating the question.
Peak and Prairie
Anna Fuller

British Dictionary definitions for deliberating

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 Formsdeliberately, 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

Word Origin and History for deliberating

deliberate

adj.

early 15c., "done with careful consideration," from Latin deliberatus "resolved upon, determined," past participle of deliberare (see deliberation). Meaning "slow, consciously unhurried" is attested by 1590s. Related: Deliberately.

deliberate

1540s, from Latin deliberatus, past participle of deliberare (see deliberation). Related: Deliberated; deliberating.