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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Deliberate: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：intentional (deliberate)

deliberate 🔊

/dɪˈlɪbərət/

adj.

Done on purpose; not by accident.

intentional 🔊

➕

in-ten-shuh-nuhl

adj.

Describes an action or decision that is done consciously and on purpose, not by chance or mistake.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'deliberatus', past participle of 'deliberare', meaning 'to consider carefully'. It is composed of 'de-' (completely) + 'librare' (to weigh).

💡 Mnemonic

DE-tectives must LIBERATE the truth after thorough DELIBERATE thought. Imagine a detective carefully weighing evidence before making an intentional move.

📖 Example

The student gave a deliberate cough to get the teacher's attention during the quiet exam. 🔊 The student's cough was an intentional act, not a spontaneous one, aimed at getting noticed.

🔗 Collocations

a deliberate act – an action done with clear intention

a deliberate attempt – a purposeful effort to achieve something

🔄 Synonyms

intentional (adj.) – done with intention or purpose

premeditated (adj.) – planned or thought out beforehand

🚫 Antonyms

accidental (adj.) – happening by chance, not on purpose

🌱 Derivatives

deliberately (adv.) – in an intentional and planned way

deliberation (n.) – long and careful consideration

📖 Cultural Story

The core idea of weighing options, embedded in its Latin root 'librare' (to balance scales), connects 'deliberate' to judicial and parliamentary processes. In modern English, it is a cornerstone of legal language, describing intentional acts (mens rea) versus accidental ones. The formal act of a jury reaching a verdict after discussion is called 'deliberation', directly preserving the word's original sense of careful consideration.

Meaning 2：thoughtful and careful (deliberate)

deliberate 🔊

/dɪˈlɪbərət/

adj.

Carefully thought about before being done; not rushed or impulsive.

thoughtful and careful 🔊

➕

thawt-fuhl and kair-fuhl

adj.

Describes a process, decision, or action that is characterized by careful thought and not being hasty or impulsive.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

After a week of deliberate consideration, she finally decided to accept the job offer in another city. 🔊 She made her choice only after a period of careful and unhurried thinking.

🔗 Collocations

a deliberate decision – a choice made after careful thought

deliberate planning – the process of preparing something with great care

🔄 Synonyms

calculated (adj.) – done with full awareness of the likely consequences

considered (adj.) – formed after careful thought

🚫 Antonyms

impulsive (adj.) – acting or done without forethought

rash (adj.) – acting or done without careful consideration

🌱 Derivatives

deliberately (adv.) – in a careful and unhurried way

deliberation (n.) – long and careful consideration

Meaning 3：slow and careful (deliberate)

deliberate 🔊

/dɪˈlɪbərət/

adj.

Slow and careful in movement or manner; unhurried.

slow and careful 🔊

➕

sloh and kair-fuhl

adj.

Describes movement, speech, or actions that are slow, controlled, and performed with careful attention.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

With deliberate steps, the speaker walked to the podium, making eye contact with the audience to build connection. 🔊 The speaker's walk was slow, controlled, and purposeful, not quick or casual.

🔗 Collocations

at a deliberate pace – moving or progressing slowly and steadily

deliberate movements – physical actions that are slow and controlled

🔄 Synonyms

measured (adj.) – slow, careful, and deliberate in movement or speech

unhurried (adj.) – moving, speaking, or acting at a slow, relaxed speed

🚫 Antonyms

hasty (adj.) – done or acting with excessive speed or urgency

abrupt (adj.) – sudden and unexpected in manner

🌱 Derivatives

deliberately (adv.) – in a slow and careful way