deliberation
careful thought before a decision
The act of thinking very carefully about something before you decide or say what to do.
after [period] of deliberation, [someone] comes to [a decision]
- After much deliberation, the board approved the merger.
- The decision was made only after careful deliberation of the possible risks.
- He bought the house without any real deliberation and later regretted it.
- Their policy changes came following months of internal deliberation.
- With little deliberation, the committee rejected the proposal.
- After long deliberation, she accepted the job.
- The team reached a plan after much deliberation.
- This problem needs serious deliberation before we act.
- The manager’s choice came after careful deliberation.
- There was a short deliberation, and then they voted.
formal discussion before a decision
A formal meeting or set of talks where a group thinks and talks carefully before it decides something.
[group] begins its deliberations on [issue]
- The jury began its deliberations shortly after hearing the final arguments.
- Council deliberations on the budget will continue over the next two weeks.
- After hours of tense deliberations, the panel finally reached a unanimous verdict.
- The negotiations have now moved into private deliberations among senior leaders.
- Media were not allowed to attend the committee’s internal deliberations.
- The jury’s deliberations lasted three days.
- The board will start its deliberations tomorrow.
- Reporters could not see the secret deliberations.
- After long deliberations, the group chose a new leader.
- Talks will move to final deliberations next week.
slow, careful way of doing something
A slow and careful way of speaking or acting, not fast or rushed.
[someone] speaks/acts with deliberation
- She spoke with great deliberation, choosing each word very carefully.
- He placed the contract on the table with obvious deliberation.
- The surgeon moved with calm deliberation throughout the operation.
- Every step he took up to the stage was full of deliberation.
- Her deliberation in answering made the audience lean in to listen.
- The teacher spoke with deliberation so everyone could follow.
- He moved with deliberation and did not rush.
- She put down her cup with clear deliberation.
- The leader answered with deliberation and a slow voice.
- They walked with deliberation through the dark room.
- Base: deliberation
- Plural: deliberation, deliberations
after careful deliberation
1after careful thought
Used to say that a final choice or action came only after slow, careful thinking.
- After careful deliberation, the board voted against the takeover.
- The judge, after careful deliberation, reduced the sentence.
after due deliberation
1after proper careful consideration
Used (often in legal or official language) to say that a decision was made only after the right amount of careful thinking.
- After due deliberation, the committee found the proposal acceptable.
- The council, after due deliberation, adopted the new regulations.
after much deliberation
1after a lot of careful thought
Used to say that someone decided something only after thinking about it very carefully for some time.
- After much deliberation, we decided to move abroad.
- The company, after much deliberation, chose to cancel the project.
jury deliberations
1a jury’s private discussions
The private talks and careful thinking that a jury does before it decides if someone is guilty or not guilty.
- Jury deliberations continued late into the night.
- The judge instructed that jury deliberations must remain confidential.
with deliberation
1in a slow, careful way
Used to describe someone doing something slowly and carefully, not in a fast or careless way.
- She answered with deliberation, weighing every word.
- He placed the ring on the table with deliberation.