Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense deliberates, present participle deliberating, past tense, past participle deliberatedpronunciation note: The adjective is pronounced (dɪlɪbərət). The verb is pronounced (dɪlɪbəreɪt).
1. adjective
If you do something that is deliberate, you planned or decided to do it beforehand, and so it happens on purpose rather than by chance.
It has a deliberate policy to introduce world art to Britain.
Witnesses say the firing was deliberate and sustained.
deliberatelyadverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
It looks as if the blaze was started deliberately.
Mr Christopher's answer was deliberately vague.
Synonyms: intentionally, on purpose, consciously, emphatically More Synonyms of deliberate
2. adjective
If a movement or action is deliberate, it is done slowly and carefully.
His movements were gentle and deliberate.
...stepping with deliberate slowness up the steep paths.
Synonyms: careful, measured, slow, cautious More Synonyms of deliberate
deliberatelyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
The Japanese have acted calmly and deliberately.
Synonyms: intentionally, on purpose, consciously, emphatically More Synonyms of deliberate
Synonyms: carefully, slowly, cautiously, thoughtfully More Synonyms of deliberate
3. verb
If you deliberate, you think about something carefully, especially before making a very important decision.
She deliberated over the decision for a long time before she made up her mind. [V + over/about]
The six-person jury deliberated about two hours before returning with the verdict. [VERB]
The Court of Criminal Appeals has been deliberating his case for almost two weeks. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: consider, think, ponder, discuss More Synonyms of deliberate
More Synonyms of deliberate
deliberate in British English
adjective (dɪˈlɪbərɪt)
1.
carefully thought out in advance; planned; studied; intentional
a deliberate insult
2.
careful or unhurried in speech or action
a deliberate pace
verb (dɪˈlɪbəˌreɪt)
3.
to consider (something) deeply; ponder; think over
Derived forms
deliberately (deˈliberately)
adverb
deliberateness (deˈliberateness)
noun
deliberator (deˈliberˌator)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin dēlīberāre to consider well, from lībrāre to weigh, from lībra scales
deliberate in American English
(dɪˈlɪbərɪt; for v., dɪˈlɪbərˌeɪt)
adjective
1.
carefully thought out and formed, or done on purpose; premeditated
2.
careful in considering, judging, or deciding; not rash or hasty
3.
unhurried and methodical
take deliberate aim
verb intransitiveWord forms: deˈliberˌated or deˈliberˌating
4.
to think or consider carefully and fully; esp., to consider reasons for and against a thing in order to make up one's mind
a jury deliberates
verb transitive
5.
to consider carefully
SIMILAR WORDS: think, ˈvolunˌtary
Derived forms
deliberately (deˈliberately)
adverb
deliberateness (deˈliberateness)
noun
deliberator (deˈliberˌator)
noun
Word origin
ME < L deliberatus, pp. of deliberare, to consider, weigh well < de-, intens. + librare, to weigh < libra, a scales
Examples of 'deliberate' in a sentence
deliberate
I think it was pretty much as deliberate as can be.
The Sun (2008)
A cynic might even think this was a deliberate strategy.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
deliberate
British English: deliberate /dɪˈlɪbərɪt/ ADJECTIVE
If something that you do is deliberate, you intended to do it.
I have no doubt that it was a deliberate attack.
American English: deliberate
Arabic: مُتَعَمَّد
Brazilian Portuguese: proposital
Chinese: 故意的
Croatian: promišljen
Czech: úmyslný
Danish: forsætlig
Dutch: doelbewust
European Spanish: intencionado
Finnish: tahallinen
French: délibéré
German: absichtlich
Greek: εσκεμμένος
Italian: intenzionale
Japanese: 故意の
Korean: 고의적인
Norwegian: bevisst
Polish: rozmyślny
European Portuguese: intencional
Romanian: intenționat
Russian: намеренный
Latin American Spanish: intencionado
Swedish: avsiktlig
Thai: ซึ่งทำอย่างรอบคอบ
Turkish: kasıtlı
Ukrainian: навмисний
Vietnamese: cố tình
British English: deliberate VERB
If you deliberate, you think about something carefully, especially before making a very important decision.
She deliberated over the decision for a long time before she made up her mind.
They deliberated what to do with the couple.
American English: deliberate
Brazilian Portuguese: deliberar
Chinese: 仔细考虑
European Spanish: deliberar
French: délibérer
German: nachdenken
Italian: ponderare
Japanese: 熟考する
Korean: 숙고하다
European Portuguese: deliberar
Latin American Spanish: deliberar
Chinese translation of 'deliberate'
deliberate
(adjdɪˈlɪbərɪt; vbdɪˈlɪbəreɪt)
adj
(= intentional) 故意的 (gùyì de)
(= careful) 审(審)慎的 (shěnshèn de)
vi
(= think) 仔细(細)考虑(慮) (zǐxì kǎolǜ)
it wasn't deliberate那不是故意的 (nà bù shì gùyì de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
carefully thought out in advance
The attack was deliberate and unprovoked.
Synonyms
intentional
I can't blame him. It wasn't intentional.
meant
planned
considered
studied
a studied understatement
designed
intended
conscious
Make a conscious effort to relax your muscles.
calculated
a calculated strategy for winning power
thoughtful
wilful
Wilful neglect of the environment has caused this problem.
purposeful
premeditated
a case of premeditated murder
prearranged
done on purpose
Opposites
unconscious
,
accidental
,
unintended
,
inadvertent
,
unthinking
,
unpremeditated
2 (adjective)
Definition
careful and unhurried
His movements were gentle and deliberate.
Synonyms
careful
One has to be extremely careful when dealing with these people.
measured
slow
He moved in a slow, unhurried way.
cautious
Mr King clearly has a cautious approach to change.
wary
Keep a wary eye on children when they are playing near water.
thoughtful
prudent
He is taking a prudent and cautious approach.
circumspect
You should have been more circumspect in your dealings with him.
methodical
She was methodical in her research.
unhurried
The islands are peaceful, with an unhurried pace of life.
heedful
Opposites
fast
,
hurried
,
rash
,
hasty
,
impulsive
,
haphazard
,
casual
,
impetuous
,
heedless
(verb)
Definition
to consider (something) deeply
The jury deliberated for two hours before returning with the verdict.
Synonyms
consider
Consider how much you can afford to pay.
think
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to think.
ponder
He didn't waste time pondering the question.
discuss
They met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.
debate
He debated whether to have a dessert.
reflect
I reflected on the child's future.
consult
The umpires consulted quickly.
weigh
He is weighing the possibility of filing charges against the doctor.
meditate
I was meditating, and reached a higher state of consciousness.
mull over
She had been mulling over the idea of making a movie.
ruminate
I had time to ruminate as I drove along.
cogitate
He was silent as he cogitated on what she had just said.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of calculated
Definition
carefully planned
a calculated strategy for winning power
Synonyms
deliberate,
planned,
considered,
studied,
intended,
intentional,
designed,
aimed,
purposeful,
premeditated
in the sense of cautious
Definition
showing or having caution
Mr King clearly has a cautious approach to change.
Synonyms
careful,
guarded,
alert,
wary,
discreet,
tentative,
prudent,
vigilant,
watchful,
judicious,
circumspect,
cagey (informal),
on your toes,
chary,
belt-and-braces,
keeping a weather eye on,
heedful
in the sense of circumspect
Definition
cautious and careful not to take risks
You should have been more circumspect in your dealings with him.