deliberation

/dɪˌlɪbəˈreɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˌlɪbəˈreɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˌli-bə-ˈrā-shən/ (ame, mw)

deliberation — noun

  • deliberationsingular
  • deliberationsplural

1. slow, careful weighing of choices or problems before a decision is reached — esp

1.名詞C1
釋義

slow, careful weighing of choices or problems before a decision is reached — especially the formal weighing done by a jury, a committee, or other group with the duty to decide.

例句

After three days of deliberation, the jury found the defendant not guilty of fraud.

after [time period] of deliberation — verdict outcome

Nora joined the committee's deliberations about how to spend the school's new budget.

deliberations about + [topic]

同義詞
  • consideration

    more neutral and everyday; deliberation suggests a more formal, weighty process

  • discussion

    broader — any talk; deliberation specifically aims at a decision

  • debate

    implies opposing positions being argued; deliberation can be quieter and more reflective

  • consultation

    focuses on seeking advice from others; deliberation is the weighing itself

反義詞
  • impulse

    acting without thought — opposite of careful weighing

  • haste

    rushed action that skips the careful-thought step

文法句型

after careful deliberation

deliberations about/over

the deliberations of [a group]

用法筆記

Frequently follows the pattern 'after (careful/long/much) deliberation' to introduce a decision. The plural 'deliberations' is the more common form when referring to the discussions of a group such as a jury, council, or committee.

常見錯誤

❌The jury did a deliberation for two hours.
✅The jury deliberated for two hours.
💡when describing the action itself, use the verb 'deliberate'; the noun usually appears in fixed phrases like 'after deliberation'.
❌She made the choice without much deliberations.
✅She made the choice without much deliberation.
💡use the uncountable singular after quantifiers like 'much', 'little', or 'enough'.

2. the quality of moving, speaking, or acting in an unhurried and intentional way,

2.名詞C2
釋義

the quality of moving, speaking, or acting in an unhurried and intentional way, where every step looks chosen rather than rushed.

例句

Otis poured the tea with great deliberation, refusing to spill a single drop.

with (great) deliberation — manner adverbial

The old chess master moved each piece with calm deliberation, as if mapping ten moves ahead.

with [adjective] deliberation — describing physical action

同義詞
  • care

    much more general; deliberation adds a visible, intentional slowness

  • purposefulness

    shared sense of intention, but lacks the unhurried-pace nuance

  • deliberateness

    closest synonym; slightly more abstract noun for the same quality

反義詞
  • haste

    rushed manner — the direct opposite

  • impulsiveness

    acting on sudden urges rather than measured intent

文法句型

with deliberation

move/speak/act with deliberation

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'with (great/calm/slow/quiet) deliberation' describing how someone performs a physical or verbal action. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes a manner of behaving, not a group decision-making process.

常見錯誤

❌He had a deliberation when he walked.
✅He walked with deliberation.
💡this sense is a quality describing how an action is done; pair it with 'with', not 'have'.