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.

A behavioral economist might say Doolittle is making sophisticated use of precommitment, the technique of acting in advance to make an unwanted choice impossible.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

How can you use precommitment to keep yourself from giving in to unwanted desires?

From Time • Jul. 24, 2015

Progressive's driving spy is a sneaky example of the "precommitment device," a technique that people use to bind themselves to their preferred desires.

From Washington Post • Jan. 29, 2011

Dan Ariely, that tireless student of human irrationality, has collected interesting precommitment anecdotes from regular people, including one who placed her credit card in a container of water in the freezer.

From Washington Post • Jan. 29, 2011

Their attorney insisted that the children should not have been committed simply on the say so of their parents, and demanded various precommitment safeguards, including a hearing.

From Time Magazine Archive