deliberately

/dɪˈlɪbərətli/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈlɪbərətli/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈli-bə-rət-lē -ˈlib-rət-/ (ame, mw)

deliberately — adverb

1. If you do something deliberately, you do it because you intend and choose to do

1.副詞B2
釋義

If you do something deliberately, you do it because you intend and choose to do it — not by accident and not because you had no choice.

例句

Jiwoo deliberately left her phone at home so she could enjoy the hike without distractions.

deliberately + verb in past tense (left)

The company deliberately lowered its prices to attract more customers during the slow season.

同義詞
  • intentionally

    more direct and slightly more formal than deliberately; common in legal and formal contexts

  • on purpose

    informal; used in everyday speech rather than writing

  • knowingly

    emphasises that the person was fully aware of what they were doing, especially when the act is wrong

  • wilfully

    formal or legal; suggests the person acted against a rule or duty

反義詞
  • accidentally

    the most common opposite; describes something that happens without intention

  • unintentionally

    slightly more formal than accidentally

  • by chance

    emphasises the role of luck or circumstance rather than intention

文法句型

deliberately + verb

be + deliberately + past participle

用法筆記

Commonly used with action verbs describing choices (choose, ignore, avoid, mislead, hurt). The adverb usually comes before the main verb in active sentences.

常見錯誤

❌I didn't do it deliberately, it was a mistake on purpose.
✅I didn't do it deliberately, it was a mistake.
💡'deliberately' already means 'on purpose'; using both is redundant.
❌He deliberately didn't came to the party.
✅He deliberately didn't come to the party.
💡after 'didn't', use the base form of the verb.

2. If you move, speak, or act deliberately, you do it in a slow and controlled way,

2.副詞B2
釋義

If you move, speak, or act deliberately, you do it in a slow and controlled way, taking care over each movement or word.

例句

The nurse walked deliberately along the hospital corridor, carrying a tray of medicines.

verb of movement + deliberately (walked deliberately)

Putri spoke deliberately during the interview, choosing each word with care.

同義詞
  • carefully

    more general; often focuses on avoiding mistakes rather than slowness

  • slowly

    emphasises only speed, not necessarily care or control

  • methodically

    suggests a planned, step-by-step approach, often in work or study

  • cautiously

    emphasises avoiding danger or risk

反義詞
  • hastily

    doing something too quickly, often with poor results

  • hurriedly

    in a rush, because of limited time

  • carelessly

    without enough attention, leading to mistakes

文法句型

verb + deliberately

deliberately + verb (less common)

用法筆記

This sense contrasts with 'hastily' or 'carelessly'. It describes not just slowness but also control and attention to detail. Often used with verbs of motion (walk, move, step) or communication (speak, say, explain).

常見錯誤

❌She drove deliberately to the store to buy milk.' (when meaning 'on purpose')
✅She deliberately drove to the store to buy milk.
💡adverb position shifts the meaning; post-verb position suggests slow/careful, pre-verb position suggests intentional.