deliberate Hear it!

deliberate Definition

de·lib·er·ate (di libər it; for v., -āt′)

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

Etymology: ME < L deliberatus, pp. of deliberare, to consider, weigh well < de-, intens. + librare, to weigh < libra, a scales

intransitive verb deliberated -·at′ed, deliberating -·at′·ing

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

transitive verb

to consider carefully

Related Forms:

deliberate Synonyms

deliberate

modif.

  1. Characterized by forethought; said of an action

    thought out, predetermined, outlined beforehand, conscious, advised, prearranged, fixed, with forethought, well-considered, cautious, studied, intentional, planned in advance, done on purpose, aforethought, willful, considered, thoughtful, purposed, purposive, planned, reasoned, pondered, judged, weighed, calculated, intended, purposeful, premeditated, voluntary, designed, cold-blooded, predeterminate, predesigned, resolved, cut-and-dried; see also careful.

    Antonyms incidental*, unintentional*, accidental. *

  2. Characterized by forethought; said of persons

    prudent, circumspect, sober; see careful, judicious.

  3. Slow in motion

    slow-moving, stolid, leisurely; see slow 1.

deliberate Synonyms

deliberate

v.

deliberate Law Definition

adj

v

  1. Intentional and premeditated, of an act performed with prior planning; with full consideration and thoroughly, as in “with all deliberate speed.”
  2. The process by which jurors determine the outcome of a case. 
deliberate Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • matter: It could be asked to deliberate on the matter by the police or by the Secretary of State.

Modifies a noun

  • self-harm: The number of episodes of deliberate self-harm is far greater.
  • ploy: The silence that has been referred to is in no way a deliberate ploy to upset the community.
  • deception: In our opinion this is deliberate deception by the council to conceal the extent of the plans.
  • concealment: He accepted that staff were guilty of a serious omission, but not of deliberate concealment.
  • attempt: A suicide attempt is a deliberate attempt by a person to end their own life.
  • handball: The equalizer came from the penalty spot after 31 minutes after a deliberate handball in the area.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: City's play often seemed far more deliberate, they always wanted an extra touch and moves broke down often through their own failings.

Modifying Another Word

  • apparently: NGOs have been hampered by diplomatic secrecy and an apparently deliberate decision to withhold information about the humanitarian dimensions of the war plans.
  • quite: This is quite deliberate on my part for two reasons.
  • entirely: The shock value of Jerry Springer: The Opera is entirely deliberate of course.
  • carefully: The imperative need for the Security Council to carefully deliberate over decisions for the setting up of peace operations cannot be over-stated.
  • obviously: He said: " The lid has been left on the box, so this was obviously deliberate.
  • probably: It is notable ( and probably deliberate ) that at few radon conferences are the benefits of marginal intervention assessed in a health context.

Preposition: in

  • order: This was deliberate in order to take full account of their circumstances at the time of release.

Browse dictionary entries near deliberate

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  1. deliberated
  2. deliberately
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