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commit

/kəˈmɪt/

/kəˈmɪt/

Other forms: committed; committing; commits

To commit is to fully dedicate yourself to something. To commit yourself to being the coolest kid on the beach means spending hours at the mall trying on trunks and flip-flops.

Commit can also mean "perform an act" — often the kind that can get you in trouble. Just ask anyone who's committed theft, or arson, or vandalism. If you are committing another person, that means you are sending that person to an institution. Someone may be committed to prison, or to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

Definitions of commit
  1. verb
    engage in or perform
    commit a random act of kindness”
    synonyms: practice
    see moresee less
    type of:
    engage, prosecute, pursue
    carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
  2. verb
    perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
    synonyms: perpetrate, pull
    see moresee less
    types:
    make
    carry out or commit
    recommit
    commit once again, as of a crime
    type of:
    act, move
    perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
  3. verb
    give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
    “She committed herself to the work of God”
    synonyms: consecrate, dedicate, devote, give
    give
    offer in good faith
    give, sacrifice
    endure the loss of
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    types:
    consecrate, vow
    dedicate to a deity by a vow
    rededicate
    dedicate anew
    apply
    apply oneself to
    type of:
    apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize
    put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
  4. verb
    confer a trust upon
    “I commit my soul to God”
    synonyms: confide, entrust, intrust, trust
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 8 types...
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    commend
    give to in charge
    charge, consign
    give over to another for care or safekeeping
    recommit
    commit again
    obligate
    commit in order to fulfill an obligation
    pledge
    give as a guarantee
    hock, pawn, soak
    leave as a guarantee in return for money
    check
    hand over something to somebody as for temporary safekeeping
    check
    consign for shipment on a vehicle
    type of:
    give, hand, pass, pass on, reach, turn over
    place into the hands or custody of
  5. verb
    cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution
    “After the second episode, she had to be committed
    “he was committed to prison”
    synonyms: charge, institutionalise, institutionalize, send
    see moresee less
    types:
    hospitalise, hospitalize
    admit into a hospital
    type of:
    transfer
    move from one place to another
  6. verb
    make an investment
    synonyms: invest, place, put
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    disinvest, divest
    reduce or dispose of; cease to hold (an investment)
    types:
    show 7 types...
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    fund
    invest money in government securities
    roll over
    re-invest (a previous investment) into a similar fund or security
    shelter
    invest (money) so that it is not taxable
    tie up
    invest so as to make unavailable for other purposes
    job, speculate
    invest at a risk
    buy into
    buy stocks or shares of a company
    bull
    try to raise the price of stocks through speculative buying
    type of:
    drop, expend, spend
    pay out
Pronunciation
US

/kəˈmɪt/

UK

/kəˈmɪt/

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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘commit'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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