commit

verb com·mit \ kə-ˈmit \

Definition of commit

committed; committing

transitive verb

1 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

2 :to carry into action deliberately :perpetrate

commit a crime

commit a sin

3 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

intransitive verb

1 obsolete :to perpetrate an offense

2 :to obligate or pledge oneself

—

committable

play \kə-ˈmi-tə-bəl\ adjective

See commit defined for English-language learners

See commit defined for kids

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 of commit from the Web

Mr Schwarzenegger has committed to match donations to a fund that will help Common Cause, an open-government group, participate in a case at the Supreme Court challenging maps drawn by Wisconsin Republicans.

— The Economist, "Arnie lends some muscle to the campaign against gerrymandering," 22 July 2017
His doctor committed him to a state psychiatric hospital for almost a week, prescribed medication and referred him to a psychiatrist.

— liz szabo, Kaiser Health News, "Depression Among Heart Attack Survivors Can Be Deadly, Yet Is Often Ignored," 20 July 2017
He had also committed to playing football at Georgetown College in the fall.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "18-year-old Georgetown College signee identified in drowning," 18 July 2017
Trump has repeatedly referred to in tweets and speeches: people who come to the U.S. and commit crimes.

— kristal brent zook, Essence.com, "How Donald Trump's Travel Ban Attempts Have Deeply Wounded Black Families And Individuals," 18 July 2017
Four-star Auburn quarterback commit Joey Gatewood was back on campus.

— drew champlin, AL.com, "Recruiting roundup: Alabama, Auburn each host top 5 national prospects," 16 July 2017
There’s a woman sitting on the ledge threatening to commit suicide.

— henry porter, The Hive, "Alas, Jeremy Corbyn Will Not Save Britain from Itself," 13 July 2017
Remember, Microsoft has committed to a schedule of Windows upgrades in both March and September.

— mark hachman, PCWorld, "Windows 10 Build 16241 gives the best sneak peek yet at the Fall Creators Update," 13 July 2017
One person came with the intent of committing a robbery and brought a gun.

— donna vickroy, Daily Southtown, "How online buyers and sellers can stay safe when closing a sale in person," 12 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'commit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of commit

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

commit Synonyms

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

COMMIT Defined for English Language Learners

commit

verb

Definition of commit for English Language Learners

: to do (something that is illegal or harmful)
: to decide to use (a person, money, etc.) for some particular purpose or use
: to say that (someone or something) will definitely do something : to make (someone or something) obligated to do something

COMMIT Defined for Kids

commit

verb com·mit \ kə-ˈmit \

Definition of commit for Students

committed; committing

1 :to bring about :perform

commit a crime

2 :to make secure or put in safekeeping :entrust

“… I must commit a friend's life to your discretion.”
—Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped

3 :to place in or send to a prison or mental hospital

4 :to pledge to do some particular thing

When asked if he would volunteer, he wouldn't commit himself.

—

commitment

\-mənt\ noun

Medical Dictionary

commit

transitive verb com·mit \ kə-ˈmit \

medical Definition of commit

committed; committing

:to place in a prison or mental institution

a patient committed by the court to a state hospital

—

committable

play \-ˈmit-ə-bəl\ adjective

Law Dictionary

commit

verb com·mit

legal Definition of commit

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