commit

[ kuh-mit ]

verb (used with object)

, com·mit·ted, com·mit·ting.

1. to do; perform; perpetrate:

   to commit murder; to commit an error.

   Synonyms: execute, effect

2. to pledge (oneself ) to a position on an issue or question; express (one's intention, feeling, etc.):

   Asked if he was a candidate, he refused to commit himself.

3. to bind or obligate, as by pledge or assurance; pledge:

   to commit oneself to a promise; to be committed to a course of action.

4. to consign for preservation:

   to commit ideas to writing; to commit a poem to memory.

5. to give in trust or charge, especially for safekeeping; consign; commend: Every summer we were committed to babysitters and camp counselors.

   to commit one's soul to God;

   Every summer we were committed to babysitters and camp counselors.

6. to consign to custody:

   to commit a delinquent to a juvenile detention center.

7. to place in a mental institution or hospital by or as if by legal authority:

   He was committed by court order on the recommendation of two psychiatrists.

8. to deliver for treatment, disposal, etc.; relegate:

   to commit a manuscript to the flames.

9. to send into a battle:

   The commander has committed all his troops to the front lines.

10. Parliamentary Procedure. to refer (a bill or the like) to a committee for consideration.

verb (used without object)

, com·mit·ted, com·mit·ting.

1. to bind or obligate oneself, as by pledge or assurance; devote or engage oneself to a person or thing: If he hasn’t committed after eight years, he’s never going to marry you.

   She is an athlete who commits to the highest standards.

   If he hasn’t committed after eight years, he’s never going to marry you.

commit

/ kəˈmɪt /

verb

1. to hand over, as for safekeeping; charge; entrust

   to commit a child to the care of its aunt

2. commit to memory
   to learn by heart; memorize
3. to confine officially or take into custody

   to commit someone to prison

4. usually passive to pledge or align (oneself), as to a particular cause, action, or attitude

   a committed radical

5. to order (forces) into action
6. to perform (a crime, error, etc); do; perpetrate
7. to surrender, esp for destruction

   she committed the letter to the fire

8. to refer (a bill, etc) to a committee of a legislature

Derived Forms

• comˈmitter, noun
• comˈmittable, adjective

Other Words From

• com·mit·ta·ble adjective
• com·mit·ter noun
• non·com·mit·ted adjective
• pre·com·mit verb (used with object) precommitted precommitting
• un·com·mit verb uncommitted uncommitting

Word History and Origins

Origin of commit¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English committen, from Anglo-French committer or directly from Latin committere, equivalent to com- “with, together, completely” + mittere “to send, give over”; com-

Word History and Origins

Origin of commit¹

C14: from Latin committere to join, from com- together + mittere to put, send

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. com·mit su·i·cide, to intentionally end one’s own life.

Example Sentences

They set up camp in the first quarter and shot 19 for 32 from beyond the arc, more than making up for the 12 turnovers they committed.

From Washington Post

The Cavaliers committed a season-high 17 turnovers but shot 64 percent in the second half, including 5 for 10 on three-pointers.

From Washington Post

“We would also like to receive input from the Housing Commission, which committed to a study on the viability of a vacancy tax two years ago,” she said.

From Voice of San Diego

Later that year, Kennedy committed to play basketball at Loyola of Chicago.

From FiveThirtyEight

It is widely expected that it will happen for the 2021 season, although Goodell did not commit last week to that.

From Washington Post

“What some people fail to realize is that it is not just fraternities that commit sexual assault,” he suggests.

From The Daily Beast

Seevakumaran uploaded six videos to YouTube on March 17, just hours before he would threaten his roommate and commit suicide.

From The Daily Beast

Jackson's story is unique, but only in how long he was made to suffer for a crime he didn't commit.

From The Daily Beast

Third, Republicans should commit to compassion in action rather than compassion in appearance.

From The Daily Beast

Voters fill out their name, address, phone number and sign a pledge that they will “commit to vote.”

From The Daily Beast

With him they were soon on the intimate terms of shipboard—terms that commit one to nothing in the future when land is reached.

From Project Gutenberg

She knew that the man's honor, his respect for his race and their struggle had brought him to commit the sacrifice.

From Project Gutenberg

Amongst the prisoners were several provincial governors, one of whom attempted to commit suicide.

From Project Gutenberg

If you fight in your boots, we must all do the same, and for myself—well, I have not come here to commit suicide.

From Project Gutenberg

But it does not follow that because we neither hate nor blame a criminal we should allow him to commit crime.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• allocate
• charge
• engage
• give
• hold
• invest
• offer
• promise
• send