deliberately

UK: /dɪˈlɪbərətli/ US: /dɪˈlɪbərɪtli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•lib•er•ate /adj. dɪˈlɪbərɪt; v. -əˌreɪt/   adj., v., -at•ed, -at•ing. 
adj. 

1. relating to or marked by deliberation:
   a deliberate lie.
2. careful, slow, even, or unhurried:
   a deliberate decision; deliberate speech.

v. 

3. to weigh in the mind;
   consider: [ ~ + obj]:
   to deliberate a question.
   [ ~ + clause]:
   They deliberated whether to hire him or not.
   [no obj]:
   The jury deliberated for three hours.

de•lib•er•ate•ly /dɪˈlɪbərɪtli/  adv.: 

They lied deliberately.

See -libra-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•lib•er•ate  (adj. di lib′ər it;v. di lib′ə rāt′), adj., v., -at•ed, -at•ing. 
adj. 

1. carefully weighed or considered;
   studied;
   intentional:
   a deliberate lie.
2. characterized by deliberation;
   careful or slow in deciding:
   a deliberate decision.
3. leisurely and steady in movement or action;
   slow and even;
   unhurried:
   a deliberate step.

v.t. 

4. to weigh in the mind;
   consider:
   to deliberate a question.

v.i. 

5. to think carefully or attentively;
   reflect:
   She deliberated for a long time before giving her decision.
6. to consult or confer formally:
   The jury deliberated for three hours.

• Latin dēlīberātus (past participle of dēlīberāre to consider), equivalent. to dē- de- + līber(āre) to balance, weigh (derivative of lībra balance, scales) + -ātus -ate¹
• Middle English 1350–1400

de•lib′er•ate•ly, adv. 
de•lib′er•ate•ness, n. 
de•lib′er•a′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. purposeful; willful.
  Deliberate, intentional, premeditated, voluntary refer to something not happening by chance.
  Deliberate is applied to what is done not hastily but with full realization of what one is doing:
  a deliberate attempt to evade justice.
  Intentional is applied to what is definitely intended or done on purpose:
  an intended omission.
  Premeditated is applied to what has been planned in advance:
  a premeditated crime.
  Voluntary is applied to what is done by a definite exercise of the will and not because of outward pressures:
  a voluntary enlistment.
• 2. methodical, thoughtful, circumspect, cautious.
• 3. See slow. 
• 4. ponder.
• 5. cogitate, ruminate.

Antonyms

• 1. accidental.
• 2. impulsive, precipitate.