What does premeditatedly mean?
“Premeditatedly” means deliberately, with prior planning, or after someone has had time to consider what to do. It is especially useful when the distinction between a spontaneous reaction and a considered course of action matters. The word is commonly associated with descriptions of crimes, accusations, and morally serious conduct, although it can apply to any action that was arranged in advance. In legal and formal writing, “premeditated” often describes the act itself, while “premeditatedly” describes how the act was carried out. Although understandable and occasionally used for emphasis, “premeditatedly” is less common than “deliberately” in everyday speech. Its distinctive force comes from the sense of intention and advance preparation: the action was not merely accidental or impulsive, but had been thought through and planned.
adverbIn a premeditated manner; deliberately and with prior planning.
- With prior planning and intention; deliberately.
"The witness claimed that the fire had been started premeditatedly."
"The authorities concluded that the attack had been premeditatedly planned."
"She had not spoken impulsively; she had waited and replied premeditatedly."
When something is done premeditatedly, the decisive moment was not the first moment: someone had already chosen to act.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does premeditatedly come from?
The adverb derives from the English adjective “premeditated” and the verb “premeditate.” These forms come from Latin praemeditari, meaning “to think over beforehand,” built from prae-, meaning “before,” and meditari, meaning “to ponder” or “consider.” The development of the meaning from thinking beforehand to planning an action in advance was established in English by the early modern period.
Related word forms
How premeditatedly is actually used
A relatively uncommon and formal alternative to “deliberately” or “intentionally.” It can sound emphatic, especially in legal, moral, or journalistic descriptions. “With premeditation” is often the more idiomatic phrasing when describing a planned offence.
Easily confused with premeditatedly
“Premeditated” is an adjective describing an act that was planned in advance, whereas “premeditatedly” is an adverb describing the manner in which something is done.