commit

American  

[kuh-mit] / kəˈmɪt /

verb (used with object)

committed, committing

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.

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verb (used without object)

committed, committing

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.

idioms

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

commit British  

/ kəˈmɪt /

verb

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

   to commit a child to the care of its aunt

2. 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

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Other Word Forms

• committable adjective
• committer noun
• noncommitted adjective
• precommit verb (used with object)
• uncommit verb

Etymology

Origin of commit

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-

Example Sentences

That data is considered highly sensitive because it can be used to commit identity theft, access financial or government records, and facilitate targeted harassment or intimidation, particularly if the data were mishandled or leaked.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

A long-term investor considering Nike might want to commit for at least three years, and there are some interesting numbers to back that play.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

The lowered revenue guidance External link for the year ahead was centered precisely in network solutions as life sciences clients remain hesitant to commit to larger spending budgets.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The LSU commit, who throws fastballs in the 90s, went five innings, giving up six hits while striking out three and walking two.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

And we’d enlisted mayors from five hundred cities and towns across the country to commit to tackling childhood obesity on the local level.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

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