dedicate
Americanverb (used with object)
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dedicates,
present (3rd person singular)
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dedicated,
past participle, past
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dedicating
present participle
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to set apart and consecrate to a deity or to a sacred purpose.
The ancient Greeks dedicated many shrines to Aphrodite.
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to devote wholly and earnestly, as to some person or purpose.
He dedicated his life to fighting corruption.
- Synonyms:
- consecrate, pledge, commit
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to offer formally (a book, piece of music, etc.) to a person, cause, or the like in testimony of affection or respect, as on a prefatory page.
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(loosely) to inscribe a personal signature on (a book, drawing, etc., that is one's own work), usually with a salutation addressing the recipient.
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to mark the official completion or opening of (a public building, monument, highway, etc.), usually by formal ceremonies.
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to set aside for or assign to a specific function, task, or purpose.
The county health agency has dedicated one inspector to monitor conditions in nursing homes.
adjective
verb
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(often foll by to) to devote (oneself, one's time, etc) wholly to a special purpose or cause; commit wholeheartedly or unreservedly
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(foll by to) to address or inscribe (a book, artistic performance, etc) to a person, cause, etc as a token of affection or respect
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(foll by to) to request or play (a record) on radio for another person as a greeting
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to assign or allocate to a particular project, function, etc
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to set apart for a deity or for sacred uses; consecrate
adjective
Synonym Usage
See devote.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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dedicateenoun
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dedicatornoun
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overdedicateverb (used with object)
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prededicateverb (used with object)
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rededicateverb (used with object)
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dedicatoryadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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dedicatesimple
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dedicatessimple
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have dedicatedperfect
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has dedicatedperfect
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am dedicatingprogressive
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are dedicatingprogressive
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is dedicatingprogressive
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have been dedicatingperfect progressive
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has been dedicatingperfect progressive
Past
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dedicatedsimple
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had dedicatedperfect
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was dedicatingprogressive
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were dedicatingprogressive
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had been dedicatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dedicate
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English (verb and adjective) from Latin dēdicātus, past participle of dēdicāre “to declare, devote,” equivalent to dē- “from, away, out of” + dicāre “to indicate, consecrate,” akin to dīcere “to say, speak”; see de-, dictate)
Explanation
To dedicate is to assign, to commit or to give over. If you dedicate a song you’ve written to a friend, it means the song belongs to them. If you dedicate yourself to a project, it means you give yourself to it. Things you may be dedicated to include your family, improving your local park, or attempting to break the world record for making the world's biggest rubber band ball. A dedicated resource is one committed to a specific mission, such as the computer room at your school being dedicated, or given over, to newspaper production every Tuesday afternoon.
Vocabulary lists containing dedicate
List 1
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Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" (1863)
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List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Although college programs dedicate countless man-hours to cracking any secret in their opponents’ plans, turning the magnifying glass toward their own habits is a far greater challenge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Sunday remains a day that he and Brie dedicate to being with each other.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
The label said Laforteza has been receiving "the utmost support" and consulting medical professionals, and has been advised to dedicate time to "extended rest and ongoing care to ensure a full recovery".
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Throughout her fitness journey, Johannesmeyer, 35, has fielded criticism both from loved ones and on social media about her choice to dedicate time to running.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
I plan to dedicate all of it to this endeavor.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Under Proposition 98, approved by voters in 1988, California has a minimum funding guarantee for schools and community colleges and dedicates roughly 40% of general fund revenue to education.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
"The worst that could happen is that we lose Omar so he dedicates himself to politics," the official said.
From Barron's ● May 10, 2026
Tedesco dedicates nearly every moment of his trips to maintaining or drumming up business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "No one who dedicates themselves to a career in midwifery should be left in limbo when their skills are so urgently needed to rebuild the NHS."
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
He bows his head, summons real tears, and dedicates the performance to Lucinda, whose great and absolute selflessness is the only reason we are able to continue in the face of our loss.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
Much of my life is dedicated to preaching that art, and practicing reverence for it can be the glue that keeps us together when the world wants us torn apart.
From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026
Yet Mr. Cregger, in a script co-written with Shay Hatten, makes him a randomly selected single combatant dedicated to defending life—a knight among the living dead.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
"I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people," Kraft said.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
In a news release, CMA described the special as a “joyful, emotional celebration” dedicated to Parton, the rhinestone-studded singer whose life began humbly, in a one-room cabin at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
But at the wonder in the boy’s eyes she collected herself and asked him who he was, so young and yet seemingly so dedicated to this high service in Greece’s holy of holies.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Before fully dedicating himself to music, Lake worked as a postman and did manual labor jobs in the fish processing industry in the U.K.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Hollywood star Josh Duhamel appears to be parting ways with his life in Los Angeles and dedicating himself to living full-time at his off-grid Minnesota cabin after listing his longtime California home for $2.99 million.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
The United States has made counter-drone operations a centerpiece of its efforts to secure the 48-team tournament, which it is co-hosting with neighboring Mexico and Canada, dedicating several hundred million dollars to the effort.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
Some see it as a second job, dedicating up to 35 hours per week to their virtual duties on top of their real-world nine-to-fives.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
I bend to my work, make my little cross on top of a clean page, dedicating my composition to J.M.J.
From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
