commit

1
2
as in to pledge
to obligate by prior agreement we were committed to finishing the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

Synonym Chooser

How is the word commit distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of commit are confide, consign, entrust, and relegate. While all these words 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

When can confide be used instead of commit?

In some situations, the words confide and commit are roughly equivalent. However, confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

When could consign be used to replace commit?

The meanings of consign and commit largely overlap; however, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

In what contexts can entrust take the place of commit?

The words entrust and commit can be used in similar contexts, but entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

Where would relegate be a reasonable alternative to commit?

While the synonyms relegate and commit are close in meaning, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of commit Tight end Rocky Cummings, who has committed to Cal, has five TD receptions in the last two games. John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025 As part of the FCC approval of Skydance’s purchase of Paramount Global, the company also committed to the hiring of an ombudsman. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025 Cohen, like other prosecutors who commit intentional misconduct are shielded – entirely. Micah Kimball, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025 There was no such list, it was announced, and Epstein definitely committed suicide and wasn’t, as the conspiracy-minded suggest, murdered by those wishing to silence him. Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commit
Verb
  • Besides religion, what are other possible reasons a person might have executed a forgery?
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The Accords will become a critical part of securing regional peace as the subsequent steps of the 20-point plan are executed, and likely cement the president’s place in history if all major countries in the region sign the covenant.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Throughout the 2015 season, the two veteran leaders pledged to take a trip to South Africa together if the Broncos made the Super Bowl.
    Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
  • After the factory closed, Cano joined litigation involving Sae-A Trading, another Korean company which used to purchase KOA Modas’s apparel on Target’s behalf and, after a lengthy legal battle, pledged to fulfill the vast majority of severance payments.
    Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Markus Breitenecker, chief operating officer, is leaving his post with immediate effect.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister and was assassinated in 2022 at a campaign rally, two years after leaving office.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • He was convicted of heroin possession, jailed for six years, and released in 1992.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
  • But a federal lawsuit argues authorities are regularly jailing and deporting immigrants who are survivors of human trafficking, domestic abuse and other crimes.
    Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Although the Peacock adaptation didn't show a full shot of Gacy in his clown costume, the series included scenes of him talking about his passion for dressing up as a clown and publicly performing as one.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • In service jobs, Black workers labored as porters, chauffeurs, and servers; in manufacturing plants, white supremacist pseudoscience was harnessed to justify forcing Black workers to perform the most difficult and dangerous work.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But Mamdani’s substantial campaign promises would require significant outside help to ultimately come to fruition, including cooperation from state legislators and Governor Kathy Hochul, who has vowed not to hike taxes on wealthy New Yorkers.
    Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
  • But who will actually exchange vows?
    Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And while handing Ole Miss its first loss of the year was reason to celebrate, things got pretty somber rather quickly for the Bulldogs after learning the injury status of one of their top playmakers.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
  • There are Reddit groups dedicated to the hobby of collecting new and vintage matchbooks, and even a website called Matchbooktraveler that catalogs restaurants in the United States that hand them out.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Lindsay Sandiford, 68, has been imprisoned on Bali since 2012.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The recipient was the dissident theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who had been imprisoned several months earlier, on account of his opposition to the Nazi regime.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commit. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on commit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!