commitment

[ kuh-mit-muhnt ]

/ kəˈmɪt mənt /

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See synonyms for: commitment / commitments on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of committing.

the state of being committed.

the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself.

a pledge or promise; obligation: We have made a commitment to pay our bills on time.

dedication; allegiance: They have a sincere commitment to religion.

perpetration or commission, as of a crime.

consignment, as to prison.

confinement to a mental institution or hospital: The psychiatrist recommended commitment.

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

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

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

Stock Exchange.

an agreement to buy or sell securities.
a sale or purchase of securities.

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Also committal (for defs. 1, 3-11).

Origin of commitment

First recorded in 1605–15; commit + -ment

OTHER WORDS FROM commitment

non·com·mit·ment, nounpre·com·mit·ment, adjectiveself-com·mit·ment, noun

Words nearby commitment

commission merchant, commission plan, commissure, commissurotomy, commit, commitment, commitment ceremony, commitment fee, committal, committed, committed facility

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use commitment in a sentence

That’s why it is so important to have public commitments of the government with the data protection law.
Podcast: COVID-19 is helping turn Brazil into a surveillance state|Anthony Green|September 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Scarane has focused instead on his support for Senate supermajority rules and questioned his commitment to supporting liberal judges.
The Trailer: The First State goes last|David Weigel|September 15, 2020|Washington Post
What is required is to match commitment to broader responsibility of corporations to society with a power structure that backs it up.
50 years later, Milton Friedman’s shareholder doctrine is dead|jakemeth|September 13, 2020|Fortune
We commend all of the HEI participants for their commitment to providing inclusive care for all.
Chase Brexton recognized in HRC Healthcare Equality Index|Philip Van Slooten|September 11, 2020|Washington Blade

Freed from the commitment of travel, we’ve already signed up an impressive group of CEOs including Marriott’s Arne Sorenson, Beth Ford of Land O’Lakes, Brian Cornell of Target, Deanna Mulligan of Guadian Life, and GE’s Larry Culp.
You’re not sitting correctly at your home office|Adam Lashinsky|September 10, 2020|Fortune
But the qualities Mario Cuomo brought to public life—compassion, integrity, commitment to principle—remain in short supply today.
President Cuomo Would’ve Been a Lion|Jonathan Alter|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Marriage is a bond and a commitment—marrying yourself is ridiculous because you are already married to yourself.
Why Singles Should Say ‘I Don’t’ to The Self-Marriage Movement|Tim Teeman|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We need a real commitment to make the film in order to get this going.
Inside Sony’s ‘Pineapple Express 2 Drama’: Leaked Emails Reveal Fight Over Stoner Comedy Sequel|William Boot|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was a personal thing she was working towards, and I felt very invested as well seeing her level of commitment.
Angelina Jolie’s New Muse: The Rise of Jack O’Connell, Star of the WWII Epic ‘Unbroken’|Marlow Stern|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“To see him make that commitment, and then the fact that he wanted to make sure his kids were baptized, speaks volumes,” Lee said.
The Baptism of Michael Brown Sr. and Ferguson’s Baptism by Fire|Justin Glawe|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He gave me a long account of his Coventry affairs, and of the commitment of the sheriffs to Newgate.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2)|Edward Gibbon
I am still in my little cell awaiting what comes and have not heard much yet regarding commitment, but hope it may come in time.
Prisons and Prayer: Or a Labor of Love|Elizabeth Ryder Wheaton
He is reported to have behaved, during the whole journey and at his commitment, with great calmness and propriety.
The Chronicles of Crime or The New Newgate Calendar. v. 1/2|Camden Pelham
Whereupon I was taken again to prison, and there kept till the time of my commitment for six months was expired.
George Fox|George Fox
Commitment to another person is a courageous act, and it is no wonder that we sometimes recoil from it.
Herein is Love|Reuel L. Howe

British Dictionary definitions for commitment

commitment

/ (kəˈmɪtmənt) /

noun

the act of committing or pledging

the state of being committed or pledged

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

the referral of a bill to a committee or legislature

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

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

commission or perpetration, esp of a crime

a future financial obligation or contingent liability

Also called (esp for senses 5, 6): committal (kəˈmɪtəl)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

commitment

Origin of commitment

OTHER WORDS FROM commitment

Words nearby commitment

Words related to commitment

How to use commitment in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for commitment