commitment

American  

[kuh-mit-muhnt] / kəˈmɪt mənt /

noun

1. the act of committing.

2. the state of being committed.

3. the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself.

4. a pledge or promise; obligation.

   We have made a commitment to pay our bills on time.

5. dedication; allegiance.

   They have a sincere commitment to religion.

6. perpetration or commission, as of a crime.

7. consignment, as to prison.

8. confinement to a mental institution or hospital.

   The psychiatrist recommended commitment.

9. an order, as by a court or judge, confining a person to a mental institution or hospital.

10. Law. a written order of a court directing that someone be confined in prison; mittimus.

11. Parliamentary Procedure. the act of referring or entrusting to a committee for consideration.

12. Stock Exchange.

    1. an agreement to buy or sell securities.

    2. a sale or purchase of securities.

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commitment British  

/ kəˈmɪtmənt /

noun

1. the act of committing or pledging

2. the state of being committed or pledged

3. an obligation, promise, etc that restricts one's freedom of action

4. the referral of a bill to a committee or legislature

5. Also called (esp formerly): mittimus.  law a written order of a court directing that a person be imprisoned

6. the official consignment of a person to a mental hospital or prison

7. commission or perpetration, esp of a crime

8. a future financial obligation or contingent liability

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Other Word Forms

• noncommitment noun
• precommitment adjective
• self-commitment noun

Etymology

Origin of commitment

First recorded in 1605–15; commit + -ment

Example Sentences

He came into the tournament courted by Newcastle Red Bulls and with question marks over his commitment to the cause.

From BBC

She wouldn’t be able to submit her assignment on time because she had another commitment that simply couldn’t be rescheduled: figure skating for Team Canada at the Olympics.

From The Wall Street Journal

Its website says its work is paid for by "the generosity of members of the Jewish community and those who share our commitment to the State of Israel".

From BBC

At the Tehran forum Sunday, Araghchi called into question the United States' commitment to negotiations.

From Barron's

"With real political commitment we can end these preventable deaths," he told the BBC.

From BBC

Related Words

• engagement
• guarantee
• need
• pledge
• promise
• responsibility