commit

verb

com·​mit kə-ˈmit How to pronounce commit (audio)
committed; committing

transitive verb

1
: to carry into action deliberately : perpetrate
commit a crime
commit a sin
2
a
: obligate, bind
a contract committing the company to complete the project on time
in a committed relationship
b
: to pledge or assign to some particular course or use
commit all troops to the attack
c
: to reveal the views of
refused to commit himself on the issue
3
a
: to put into charge or trust : entrust
commit all executive, legislative, and judicial powers to one man …Arthur T. Vanderbilt
b
: to place in a prison or mental institution
The patient was committed by the court to a mental hospital.
He was committed to the state penitentiary for 10 years
c
: to consign or record for preservation
commit it to memory
d
: to put into a place for disposal or safekeeping
The chaplain committed the sailor's body to the deep.
e
: to refer (something, such as a legislative bill) to a committee for consideration and report

intransitive verb

1
: to obligate or pledge oneself
2
obsolete : to perpetrate an offense
committable adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for commit

commit, entrust, confide, consign, relegate mean to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose.

commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

Examples of commit in a Sentence

The massacre was committed by the rebel army. The contract commits the company to finishing the bridge by next fall. He keeps delaying his decision because he doesn't want to commit himself. They have not yet committed to a particular course of action.
Recent Examples on the Web Ventura’s Sadie Engelhardt, one of the nation’s top junior track and field and cross-country prospects, has committed to North Carolina State. . . Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Winners: Gun industry Gary’s lawsuit against major firearms manufacturers is the last hold-out from the 1990s, when dozens of cities filed similar lawsuits in an effort to hold the gun industry liable for crimes committed with their products. Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Mar. 2024 Sounds of suffering can be heard, but nothing from the atrocities being committed are ever shown on screen. Dan Heching, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 All crimes against humanity committed anywhere need to be called out; especially the ones supported by our tax dollars. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 The new initiative committed to raising $1M for Protect Our Winters (POW), the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, and American Prairie, is near and dear to White. Nina Kokotas Hahn, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2024 The allocation process grants committed buyers 14 days to secure their piece with a 25% deposit, with the remaining balance due pre-delivery. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 The murders were committed by a left-handed assailant. Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2024 Its aviation mission is dependent on the aircraft returning to flight, and the Marine Corps is committed to the Osprey remaining in its fleet through the 2050s, said Marine Corps assistant deputy commandant for aviation Brig. CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English committen "to give in trust (to), delegate authority (to), engage in," borrowed from Anglo-French committer, commettre, going back to Latin committere "to join together, engage, place in the keeping of, entrust, bring about, carry out (a crime)," from com- com- + mittere "to release, let go, send (for a purpose)" — more at admit

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of commit was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near commit

Cite this Entry

“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commit. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

commit

verb
com·​mit kə-ˈmit How to pronounce commit (audio)
committed; committing
1
a
: to make secure or put in safekeeping : entrust
commit the poem to memory
b
: to place in a prison or mental institution
2
: bring about, perform
commit a crime
3
: to pledge or assign to some particular course or use
committed myself to a meeting on Thursday
committable adjective

Medical Definition

commit

transitive verb
com·​mit kə-ˈmit How to pronounce commit (audio)
committed; committing
: to place in a prison or mental institution
a patient committed by the court to a state hospital
committable adjective

Legal Definition

commit

verb
com·​mit
committed; committing

transitive verb

1
a
: to put into another's charge or trust : entrust, consign
committed her children to her sister's care
b
: to place in a prison or mental hospital especially by judicial order
was found to be gravely disabled and was involuntarily committed to the Central Louisiana State HospitalIn the Matter of K.G., 531 So. 2d 575 (1988)
compare institutionalize, interdict
c
: to send (as a legislative bill) to a committee for consideration and report
commit the crime bill to the joint committee
2
: to carry into action deliberately : perpetrate
to define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seasU.S. Constitution art. I
3

intransitive verb

: to obligate or bind oneself
would not commit to the irrevocable order

More from Merriam-Webster on commit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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