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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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

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

How to use commitment in a sentence

I envy my refusenik friends their steadfast commitments to stay in, and contentment in doing so.
The Refuseniks Hiding From ‘Happy New Year’|Lizzie Crocker|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their pronouncements suggest that they hold those commitments in contempt.
Facebook Prince Purges The New Republic: Inside the Destruction of a 100-Year-Old Magazine|Lloyd Grove|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
North Korea must show it is serious and prepared to abide by its commitments, particularly concerning denuclearization.
To Free American Prisoners, America’s Top Spy Goes to North Korea|Shane Harris|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But officials gave the delegation no specific commitments and made no concrete promises of increased U.S. assistance.
Yazidis Face Genocide by ISIS After U.S. Turns Away|Josh Rogin|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

So far, in both online and physical cards, they say they have collected 1,199,169 total commitments.
The Democrats’ Simple Midterm Weapon|Ben Jacobs|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, to show the inefficiency of the law, he proceeds to state, that the commitments for trial were only 29 per cent.
Lands of the Slave and the Free|Henry A. Murray
What view will the coming Labour governments of Britain take of our Imperial commitments?
The Wanderings of a Spiritualist|Arthur Conan Doyle
It would compel corn beef commitments beyond the point of comfort.
Pieces of Hate|Heywood Broun
Commitments to ship over 300,000 tons of the ore were written into trade agreements with Western European countries.
East-West Trade Trends|Harold E. Stassen
Resolutions or commitments of this sort accomplish little good.
Socialism As It Is|William English Walling

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 related to commitment

How to use commitment in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for commitment