commit

com·mit

verb \kə-ˈmit\

com·mit·tedcom·mit·ting

Definition of COMMIT

transitive verb

1

a : to put into charge or trust : entrust

b : to place in a prison or mental institution

c : to consign or record for preservation <commit it to memory>

d : to put into a place for disposal or safekeeping

e : to refer (as a legislative bill) to a committee for consideration and report

2

: to carry into action deliberately : perpetrate <commit a crime>

3

a : obligate, bind <a contract committing the company to complete the project on time>

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>

intransitive verb

1

obsolete : to perpetrate an offense

2

: to obligate or pledge oneself

— com·mit·ta·ble \-ˈmi-tə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of COMMIT

1. The massacre was committed by the rebel army.
2. The contract commits the company to finishing the bridge by next fall.
3. He keeps delaying his decision because he doesn't want to commit himself.
4. They have not yet committed to a particular course of action.

Origin of COMMIT

Middle English committen, from Anglo-French committer, from Latin committere to connect, entrust, from com- + mittere to send

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to COMMIT

Synonyms

accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, perform, compass, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill (or fulfil), make, negotiate, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through

Antonyms

hold, keep, retain

Related Words

bring about, effect, effectuate, implement; ace, nail; engage (in), practice (also practise); work (at); reduplicate, reenact, repeat; actualize, attain, realize; complete, end, finish, wind up

Near Antonyms

fail; skimp, slight, slur

Synonym Discussion of 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>.

Rhymes with COMMIT

a bit, acquit, admit, armpit, backfit, base hit, befit, bowsprit, bushtit, catch it, cesspit, close-knit, cockpit, cool it, culprit, cut it, demit, dimwit, dog it, do it, emit, firelit, fleapit, gaslit, get it, gill slit, godwit, hack it, half-wit, hard-hit, henbit, house-sit, legit, lit crit, make it, mess kit, misfit, mishit, moonlit, mosh pit, nitwit, no-hit, obit, omit, outfit, outwit, owe it, peewit, permit, pinch-hit, Prakrit, press kit, pulpit, refit, remit, rough it, sandpit, Sanskrit, scratch hit, snakebit, snake pit, starlit, stock split, submit, sunlit, switch-hit, tar pit, tidbit, tight-knit, tomtit, to wit, transmit, turnspit, twilit, two-bit, unfit, unknit, warp knit, watch it, weft knit, well-knit

com·mit

transitive verb \kə-ˈmit\   (Medical Dictionary)

com·mit·ted; com·mit·ting

Medical Definition of COMMIT

: to place in a prison or mental institution <a patient committed by the court to a state hospital>

—com·mit·ta·ble \-ˈmit-ə-bəl\ (audio pronunciation) adjective