commit

verb

com·​mit kə-ˈmit 

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

… the Constitution commits three categories of power to three separate branches of our federal government.

—John Paul Stevens

b

: to place in a prison or an institution for the mentally ill

The patient was committed by the court to a psychiatric 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

kə-ˈmi-tə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of commit

• execute
• accomplish
• fulfill
• perform
• achieve
• do
• make
• implement

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

Hoeschele recalled early debates about whether the company should really commit to such an audacious investment. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025

Since its founding, the organization has delivered over 72 million meals in total and has committed to eliminating elder hunger in New York City by 2040. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025

Defensive lineman Ari Slocum reopened his recruitment but committed back to the Hogs last week. —Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2025

In the year leading up to March 2024, 570 homicides took place in England and Wales, according to ONS, with 262 homicides committed using a knife or other sharp instrument. —Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025

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

Phrases Containing commit

• commit a crime
• commit (something) to memory
• commit (something) to paper/writing
• commit suicide

Rhymes for commit

• acquit
• admit
• amrit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• cockpit
• dalit
• dendrite
• emit
• illite
• misfit

Kids Definition

commit

verb

com·​mit kə-ˈmit 

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

-ˈmit-ə-bəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

commit

transitive verb

com·​mit kə-ˈmit 

committed; committing

: to place in a prison or an institution for the mentally ill

a patient committed by the court to a psychiatric hospital

committable

-ˈmit-ə-bəl 

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 Hospital

—In 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 seas

—U.S. Constitution art. I

3

: obligate, bind

intransitive verb

: to obligate or bind oneself

would not commit to the irrevocable order