dedication

noun

ded·i·ca·tion | \ ˌde-di-ˈkā-shən

Essential Meaning of dedication

1 : a feeling of very strong support for or loyalty to someone or something : the quality or state of being dedicated to a person, group, cause, etc. It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but we managed to finish the project on time.

2 : a message at the beginning of a book, song, etc., saying that it was written or is being performed in order to honor or express affection for someone

3 : the act of officially saying that something (such as a new building) was created for a particular purpose (such as worship) or to remember or honor a particular person the dedication of the temple They celebrated the dedication of the new building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Full Definition of dedication

1 religion : an act or rite of dedicating (see dedicate entry 2 sense 1) to a divine being or to a sacred use the dedication of the temple

2 : a devoting or setting aside for a particular purpose the dedication of funds raised from the bake sale to the class trip

3 : a name and often a message prefixed to a literary, musical, or artistic production in tribute to a person or cause mentioned his family in a brief dedication in his novel

4 : self-sacrificing devotion and loyalty her dedication to the cause required hard work and dedication

5 : a ceremony to mark the official completion or opening of something (such as a building) attended the building's dedication nearly fifty years ago

Other Words from dedication Synonyms & Antonyms Did you know? More Example Sentences Learn More About dedication

Examples of dedication in a Sentence

It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but we managed to finish the project on time. the dedication of the temple They celebrated the dedication of the new building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Recent Examples on the Web But before that — a photo by Laura Mellon shows the dedication of members of the flight crew, rescuing their two-month-old baby girl patient from the wreckage. — CBS News, 12 Jan. 2022 General manager Jon Horst, coach Mike Budenholzer and Pashke's former broadcast partners Jon McGlocklin and Marques Johnson were on hand for the dedication. — Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2022 The song is a dedication to her daughter, and explores the singer's entrance into motherhood. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE.com, 7 Jan. 2022 The story of his own early tutelage under Oscar Hammerstein II has been told and retold, but much less known — at least outside professional theater — is the rigorous dedication with which Sondheim passed that tradition on. — New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021 But one of my favorite things about this island is its complete dedication to all things cozy — and that goes for its many bars. — Erika Owen, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2021 What El Silencio mezcal co-owner Fausto Zapata remembers most about growing up with Day of the Dead celebrations was Mexico’s dedication to traditions. — Elva Ramirez, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2021 Marineau said that the impact of the organization on its community is part of what inspires her work, as well as Camp Fire Columbia’s dedication to employees. — oregonlive, 23 Sep. 2021 Before he was introduced, it was noted that Trebek’s widow and children had been on hand for the stage’s dedication to its old host, who died of cancer last October. — David Bauder, chicagotribune.com, 14 Sep. 2021

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