dedication

[ded-i-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of dedicating.

2. the state of being dedicated: dedicated.

   Her dedication to medicine was so great that she had time for little else.

3. a formal, printed inscription in a book, piece of music, etc., dedicating it to a person, cause, or the like.

4. a personal, handwritten inscription in or on a work, as by an author to a friend.

5. a ceremony marking the official completion or opening of a public building, institution, monument, etc.

dedication

/ ˌdɛdɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of dedicating or the state of being dedicated

2. an inscription or announcement prefixed to a book, piece of music, etc, dedicating it to a person or thing

3. complete and wholehearted devotion, esp to a career, ideal, etc

4. a ceremony in which something, such as a church, is dedicated

Other Word Forms

• dedicational adjective
• nondedication noun
• overdedication noun
• prededication noun
• rededication noun
• self-dedication noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dedication¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English dedicacioun, from Latin dēdicātiōn-, stem of dēdicātiō, literally, “a declaring,” equivalent to dēdicāt(us) “declared, devoted” (past participle of dēdicāre; dedicate ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

“You talk about a kid that did a 360. He’s representing what I believe is important to being a captain — dedication, holding people accountable. He’s doing everything right.”

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Man-su is grilling up a late-summer dinner for his family: expensive eel, a thank-you gift for his “years of hard work and dedication” to the paper manufacturing company he works for.

Read more on Salon

Butler could stay because of her dedication to her land and the private assistance she received.

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"When you've got that feeling inside you that you're meant to do something special, you have to have that dedication and drive to overcome barriers," she said.

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But it was his dedication to mastering the switch from the outfield to shortstop — becoming the first prominent player since Honus Wagner to make the move — that literally changed the direction of the franchise.

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Related Words

• adherence 
• allegiance 
• commitment 
• devotion