devote

[dih-voht]

verb (used with object)

devoted, devoting 

1. to give up or appropriate to or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc..

   to devote one's time to reading.

   Synonyms: consign, apply, assign

2. to appropriate by or as if by a vow; set apart or dedicate by a solemn or formal act; consecrate.

   She devoted her life to God.

3. to commit to evil or destruction; doom.

devote

/ dɪˈvəʊt /

verb

1. to apply or dedicate (oneself, time, money, etc) to some pursuit, cause, etc

2. obsolete,  to curse or doom

Other Word Forms

• devotement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of devote¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin dēvōtus “vowed,” past participle of dēvovēre “to vow,” from dē- de- + vovēre “to vow” ( vow )

Word History and Origins

Origin of devote¹

C16: from Latin dēvōtus devoted, solemnly promised, from dēvovēre to vow; see _de- , _vow

Synonym Study

Devote, dedicate, consecrate share the sense of assigning or applying someone or something to an activity, function, or end. Devote, though it has some overtones of religious dedication, is the most general of the three terms: He devoted his free time to mastering the computer. Dedicate is more solemn and carries an ethical or moral tone: We are dedicated to the achievement of equality for all. Consecrate, even in nonreligious contexts, clearly implies a powerful and sacred dedication: consecrated to the service of humanity.

Example Sentences

Ms. Gaul devotes an entire chapter to an indispensable preparation called tasbika, a rich tomato-based medium for simmering vegetable and meat stews.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It came loaded with a subscription to the Sirius radio service, featuring a channel devoted entirely to Bruce called E Street Radio.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They praised Phillips, who they said had "devoted her life to hearing and amplifying the voices of women and girls who would otherwise have been unheard" and had helped some of them access support.

Read more on BBC

All seven council members and the mayor are devoted Christians, and they invariably begin by thanking “Our Heavenly Father” for allowing us to be together in such beautiful surroundings.

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Along with many speeches by the Clintons, some federal funds were devoted to programs to help lenders offer microcredit so that low-income people could start small enterprises.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• allot 
• apply 
• assign 
• dedicate 
• donate 
• give 
• give away 
• present