devote

verb

de·​vote di-ˈvōt 

dē-

devoted; devoting

transitive verb

1

: to commit by a solemn act

devoted herself to serving God

2

: to give over or direct (time, money, effort, etc.) to a cause, enterprise, or activity

Part of the lecture was devoted to taking questions from the audience.

She devoted her life to public service.

devotement

di-ˈvōt-mənt 

dē-

noun

Synonyms of devote

• dedicate

Choose the Right Synonym for devote

devote, dedicate, consecrate, hallow mean to set apart for a special and often higher end.

devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective.

devoted his evenings to study

dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose.

dedicated her life to medical research

consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality.

consecrate a church to the worship of God

hallow, often differing little from dedicate or consecrate, may distinctively imply an attribution of intrinsic sanctity.

battlegrounds hallowed by the blood of patriots

Examples of devote in a Sentence

I conscientiously devote several hours every weekend to playing with my dog.

planning a diplomatic career, she's been intensely devoting herself to the study of foreign languages in college

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, the face is so important to our social fabric that there’s an area of the brain—called the fusiform face area—devoted exclusively to decoding it. —Valerie Monroe, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026

Consumer insights like these are a thorn in the side of brands and retailers such as Levi’s, Nudie, and Uniqlo, all of which have devoted significant store space to repair services and invested heavily in promoting and educating consumers about keeping their jeans in use for longer. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 15 Jan. 2026

In the final scene, Ki-tae makes a pledge to devote his loyalty to the president and to the country in his new role. —Kayti Burt, Time, 14 Jan. 2026

The state is devoting $50 million in federal grant funding this year to cancer screening, prevention and treatment. —Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin devotus, past participle of devovēre, from de- + vovēre to vow

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing devote

• devote to

Rhymes for devote

• afloat
• azote
• banknote
• bareboat
• benzoate
• connote
• cutthroat
• demote
• denote
• endnote
• footnote
• greatcoat

Kids Definition

devote

verb

de·​vote di-ˈvōt 

devoted; devoting

1

: to set apart for a special purpose

devote land to farming

2

: to give (oneself) up to

devoted herself to her career