What does deliberate mean?
Word: Deliberate
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Deliberate means done on purpose, not by chance. It can also mean slow and steady, with every step thought about.
Synonyms: intentional, planned, careful
Antonyms: unintentional
How do you spell deliberate?
Syllables: de - lib - er - ate
Tricky part: Students swallow the er in the middle when they say the word fast, and so leave a part out when they write it.
Watch out for: delibrate, dilibrate, deliborate
Memory tip: The middle looks like the start of liberty: lib-er. Keep that er.
Deliberate in a sentence
Example 1: Spilling the paint was a mistake, not a deliberate act.
Example 2: Grandpa walks with slow, deliberate steps.
Example 3: She made a deliberate choice to sit next to the new girl.
Fun Fact
It goes back to a Latin verb meaning to weigh up carefully. Libra, the Latin word for a pair of scales, is hidden inside that verb.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
deliberate
a) purposeful
b) conscious
c) accidental
d) intended
Show answer
c) accidental. Something intended, purposeful or conscious is meant; accidental means not on purpose.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
delliberate
a) d
b) r
c) b
d) l
Show answer
d) l. There is one l, straight after the de.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) decision
b) promise
c) deliberete
d) purpose
Show answer
c) deliberete. Its ending is -ate, as in chocolate and private.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
altbreeeid
a) deliberate
b) liberated
c) literate
d) delegate
Show answer
a) deliberate. Ten letters with a d and a b: liberated is a letter short, delegate has a g, and literate has no d or b.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which action is done deliberately?
a) tripping over a stone
b) yawning in your sleep
c) sneezing in a dusty room
d) writing a thank-you letter
Show answer
d) writing a thank-you letter
2. Grandpa spoke in a slow, deliberate voice. How did he speak?
a) loudly, over everyone else
b) quickly, without a pause
c) carefully, choosing each word
d) in a whisper nobody heard
Show answer
c) carefully, choosing each word
