adjective
deliberate
dih-LIHB-ruht
adjective
1
Done on purpose; intentional.
"The delay appeared to be a deliberate attempt to frustrate negotiations."
"It was a deliberate choice to keep the design simple."
verb
1
To think carefully about something before deciding.
"The jury deliberated for six hours before reaching a verdict."
How to Use Deliberate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething done on purpose, or the careful act of weighing up a decision.
Common mistake
As an adjective it's stressed di-LIB-er-it; as a verb, di-LIB-er-ayt.
Common pairings
a deliberate act
deliberate on a verdict
deliberate choice
Word Forms
more deliberate comparative, deliberated past tense, deliberates singular, most deliberate superlative
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The delay appeared to be a _____ attempt to frustrate negotiations.
Etymology
From Latin deliberare, "to weigh carefully" — built from de- plus librare, "to balance."