Word
deliberate
Phoneticsde·lib·er·ate, stress on the second syllable
/dɪˈɫɪbɝˌeɪt/
Definitions
01intentional
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. done on purpose and not by accident.
adj. done consciously and intentionally; resulting from a purposeful decision.
日本語:意識的※
Español:deliberado
“It wasn't a mistake; it was a deliberate attempt to make me look bad.”
“The company made a deliberate choice to ignore the safety warnings in order to meet the production deadline.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02slow and careful
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. slow, calm, and careful in the way you move or speak.
adj. characterised by a slow, unhurried, and careful pace, often to avoid error or to show confidence.
日本語:慎重※
“He spoke in a slow, deliberate voice so that everyone could understand him.”
“The surgeon moved with deliberate precision, aware that even a millimetre of error could result in permanent nerve damage.”
03to think carefully
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to think about something very carefully, usually before making an important decision.
v. to engage in long and careful consideration; often used in legal or formal contexts regarding a group decision.
日本語:思案する※
“The jury will now deliberate to decide if the man is guilty or innocent.”
“The board of directors spent several hours deliberating the merits of the merger before finally calling for a vote.”
Usage
Often used as an intransitive verb when describing a jury or committee.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “deliberate” in context.
Verb
01. seem deliberate
“The delay in responding to my email seemed deliberate, as if they were avoiding the question.”
verb + adj
02. take deliberate action
“The government must take deliberate action to combat the rising cost of living.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. deliberate attempt
“The company made a deliberate attempt to improve its public image after the scandal.”
adj + noun
04. deliberate choice
“Living without a television was a deliberate choice to encourage more family conversation.”
adj + noun
05. deliberate policy
“The school has a deliberate policy of keeping class sizes small to ensure individual attention.”
adj + noun
06. entirely deliberate
“The referee concluded that the foul was entirely deliberate and issued a red card.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“Stress narrows attention and pushes people toward fast, intuitive judgments at the very moment they need slow, deliberate ones.” “Dario Amodei, Anthropic’s CEO, on Saturday urged AI companies to take a more deliberate approach to development.” “Judge Sullivan denied the request and sent jurors back to deliberate.” “And then there are cable faults - a far more common risk than deliberate attacks.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English deliberat(e), borrowed from Latin dēlīberātus, perfect passive participle of dēlīberō (“to consider, weigh well”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dē- + līberō / lībrō (“to weigh”)), from libera / libra (“a balance”); see librate. Doublet of deliber.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/deliberate
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0