adjective / verb

deliberate

Involving careful thought before action.

She takes a deliberate approach to planning the family budget.

Etymology

Latin deliberare meant to consider or weigh carefully. Deliberate action has passed through that mental weighing, and the verb names the process of considering before deciding.

More examples

  • His silence is a deliberate choice, not an oversight.
  • The jury deliberates before reaching a verdict.
  • We deliberated over the offer before accepting it.

Forms

deliberate · deliberates · deliberated · deliberating · more deliberate · most deliberate

deliberation noun — Careful thought or discussion before a decision.

deliberately adverb — With intention or careful thought.

Similar words

considered
Describes a judgment or choice reached after careful thought.
intentional
Emphasizes purpose rather than careful consideration before acting.
ponder
Means to think deeply, without necessarily reaching a decision.