Deliberate
/dɪˈlɪbərət/
adjectiveverbB2
Definition
As an adjective, deliberate describes actions or decisions made slowly and carefully, with clear intention, not by accident. As a verb, it means to think deeply and carefully about something before deciding or acting.
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See It in Action
Done on purpose and carefully (adjective)
- •The deliberate choice to save money helped her buy a house.
- •His deliberate movements showed he was very careful.
- •The painting was a deliberate effort to express sadness.
To think carefully before making a decision (verb)
- •The jury deliberated for hours before reaching a verdict.
- •We need to deliberate the options before choosing a new leader.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "deliberate" like "careful" (A2 word), but with a strong idea of doing something on purpose and thinking a lot before acting
- ✓Picture someone slowly turning pages in a book, thinking hard before choosing the next step
- ✓It's the feeling when you stop and think twice before saying something important or making a big choice
- ✓Sounds like "de-LIB-er-ate" → imagine a librarian (LIB) carefully choosing a book for you, showing slow, careful thought
- ✓In stories, characters often deliberate before making important decisions, like choosing to trust a stranger or not
- ✓NOT like "accidental" (happens by chance), deliberate means done with clear intention
- ✓NOT like "rush" (quick and careless), deliberate means slow and thoughtful
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "decide" quickly, but to think carefully before deciding
Try Other Words
- •Intentional: done on purpose (Use when emphasizing the action is planned and not by accident)
- •Ponder: to think about something deeply (Use when focusing on the thinking part, like the verb meaning)
- •Consider: to think about (Use for general thinking, less strong than deliberate)
- •Purposeful: having a clear aim or goal (Use when highlighting strong intention)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "de-" (from Latin, often means "down" or "away") + "liberare" (Latin root meaning "to weigh" or "balance") + suffix "-ate" (forms adjective or verb)
- •Etymology: From Latin "deliberatus," past participle of "deliberare," meaning to weigh carefully or consider
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s in English to describe careful thinking or intentional actions
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe slow, careful actions or thoughtful decision-making in many contexts
Reflect & Connect
•How do you know when a decision is truly deliberate and not just quick or careless?
•Can an action be deliberate but still have unexpected results? How would you explain that?
Fill in the blanks
1.She made a deliberate ___ to speak slowly so everyone could understand her.
2.The committee deliberated for hours because the choice was very ___.
3.Unlike a quick reaction, a deliberate action shows ___ and intention.
4.When the judge asked the jury to deliberate, they had to ___ all the evidence carefully.
5.His deliberate ___ showed he was not in a hurry and wanted to avoid mistakes.
6.A deliberate mistake is not an accident but done ___.
7.We should deliberate ___ before making important life decisions.