dedicate

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adjective ded·i·cate \ˈde-di-kət\

Definition of dedicate

: dedicated 1

Origin and Etymology of dedicate

Middle English, from Latin dedicatus, past participle of dedicare to dedicate, from de- + dicare to proclaim, dedicate — more at diction

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

dedicate

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verb ded·i·cate \ˈde-di-ˌkāt also ˈde-ˌdē-\

Definition of dedicate

dedicated

;

dedicating

transitive verb
1 : to devote to the worship of a divine being; specifically : to set apart (a church) to sacred uses with solemn rites
2a : to set apart to a definite use money dedicated to their vacation fundb : to commit to a goal or way of life ready to dedicate his life to public service
3 : to inscribe or address by way of compliment dedicate a book to a friend
4 : to open to public use

dedicator

play \-ˌkā-tər\ noun

See dedicate defined for English-language learners

See dedicate defined for kids

Examples of dedicate in a Sentence

The new park was dedicated today.
a young attorney who has decided to dedicate her career to helping the poor receive justice

Recent Examples of dedicate from the Web

View Slideshow Graffiti meets gallery art in a new show at Pen and Brush, a New York institution dedicated to promoting female artists.

— sarah nechamkin, The Cut, "This All-Female Graffiti Show Explores the Politics of Street Art," 20 July 2017
The exercise unfolded at Territory of Freedom, a camp dedicated to democratic values.

— The Economist, "Rainbow Man v Bureaucrat ManYoung Russians are brainstorming ways to oppose the government," 13 July 2017
The temple was dedicated in October of 28 B.C. and included statues of Apollo, Diana and Latona—the gods of music, the hunt, and the mother of Apollo, respectively—as well as vaulted rooms with gold tripods and collections of gems.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "How Archaeologists Crammed 1500 Years of Roman History Into One Map," 5 July 2017
Russell, an intuitive entrepreneur, later opened two successful stores called WHY Louisville, which were gift emporiums dedicated to Kentucky.

— jeffrey lee puckett, The Courier-Journal, "'I was just gone.' After manic episode, Lebowski Fest founder Will Russell embraces recovery," 5 July 2017
In 1939, the group acquired and dedicated a building at 1516 W. Girard Ave. as the Friends of the Deaf Community Center.

— bonnie l. cook, Philly.com, "Pearl B. Olanoff, 91, longtime teacher of deaf children," 3 July 2017
The Glenoaks Boulevard Bridge, near the intersection of Glenoaks Boulevard and Ethel Avenue, was dedicated that same year, while the Geneva Street crossing opened in 1938.

— katherine yamada, Glendale News-Press, "Verdugo Views: Local bridge helped bring back Verdugo Wash after destructive floods," 29 June 2017
Meet some of the founding fathers at the brand new Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, which is dedicated to telling the story of the American Revolution in the city where the Declaration of Independence was written.

— eileen ogintz, Fox News, "Fourth of July festivals: 7 different ways to celebrate America," 28 June 2017
KHN is run independently from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Menlo Park, Calif., that is dedicated to filling the need for trusted information on national health issues.

— kaiser health news and the enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Promises made to protect preexisting conditions hollow, experts say," 27 June 2017

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

First Known Use of dedicate

15th century

Synonym Discussion of dedicate

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

DEDICATE Defined for English Language Learners

dedicate

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verb

Definition of dedicate for English Language Learners

: to officially make (something) a place for honoring or remembering a person, event, etc.

DEDICATE Defined for Kids

dedicate

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verb ded·i·cate \ˈde-di-ˌkāt\

Definition of dedicate for Students

dedicated

;

dedicating

1 : to set apart for some purpose : devote The land was dedicated as a nature preserve.
2 : to commit to a goal or way of life She dedicated her life to finding a cure.
3 : to say or write that something (as a book or song) is written or performed as a compliment to someone “We at Flint's only soul station, WAMM, dedicate this song to Daniel, from Wilona.” — Christopher Paul Curtis, The Watsons