deliberation
deliberation — noun
- deliberationsingular
- deliberationsplural
1. The time and mental effort spent examining different sides of an issue, either a
The time and mental effort spent examining different sides of an issue, either alone or in a group, before a final choice is made. It covers both the internal process of weighing pros and cons and the formal exchange of opinions among people such as committee members or jurors.
The jury's deliberation on the murder trial lasted three days before they reached a verdict.
deliberation + on + by a jury
Mira spent weeks in deliberation before accepting the job offer from the Tokyo office.
spend time in deliberation
The council held a long deliberation about whether to raise local taxes this year.
Vivek's proposal was approved after a brief deliberation by the review committee.
After months of deliberation, the family decided to sell their old farmhouse.
- consideration
More general; does not imply group discussion, only individual thought.
- reflection
Emphasises quiet, personal thinking rather than group debate.
- discussion
Focuses on the exchange of views; lacks the 'careful decision-making' element.
- debate
Suggests opposing viewpoints and a competitive tone, which deliberation does not require.
文法句型
deliberation + about/on/over + noun phrase
after/long/weeks of deliberation
deliberation + by + noun phrase (agent)
用法筆記
Frequently uncountable when referring to the general process ('after careful deliberation'), but countable when referring to a specific instance or session ('the deliberations of the committee').
常見錯誤
2. A way of moving, speaking, or acting that is deliberately slow, controlled, and
A way of moving, speaking, or acting that is deliberately slow, controlled, and unhurried, showing that care and attention are being given to every detail. This sense describes the quality or manner of an action rather than the act of thinking itself.
Karim placed each book on the shelf with deliberation, arranging them by height.
with deliberation (manner adverbial)
The old craftsman carved the wooden figure with slow deliberation, never rushing a single cut.
Hyun signed the contract with careful deliberation, reading each clause twice.
Diego measured the ingredients with great deliberation before adding them to the bowl.
The pianist played the final chord with such deliberation that the audience held its breath.
- care
Less formal; emphasises attention to avoid mistakes rather than slowness.
- thoroughness
Focuses on completeness of the action, not necessarily the slow pace.
- circumspection
More formal; implies caution and awareness of risks.
- haste
The opposite quality — acting quickly without care.
文法句型
with + deliberation
with + adjective + deliberation
用法筆記
Always uncountable in this sense. Unlike sense 1, this meaning does not take an object or topic — you cannot say 'deliberation about the movement.' The phrase 'with deliberation' is the most common pattern.