commit

Definition of commitnext
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as in to pledge
to obligate by prior agreement we were committed to finishing the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 On cross-examination, Prosecutor Sheila Ross challenged the defense’s suggestion that Ibarra’s older brother, Diego, could have committed the crime. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026 However, the compensation gap can be stark—and BlackRock is committing to competing in more rarified air. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026 The MaxPreps Arizona player of the year had originally committed to Texas in 2023 when former UT coach David Pierce was leading the program. Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026 As for the quintet, Carroll is committed to convening the group on bandstands at least once a month. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for commit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commit
Verb
  • Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was summarily executed in the street.
    Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • His death sentence echoes the case of Iranian wrestling champion Navid Afkari, who was executed in September 2020.
    Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Senior officials would call for reviews, pledge transparency, and promise answers.
    Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Last fall, Crystal International joined environmental nonprofit Textile Exchange, pledging to expand the adoption of preferred sustainable alternatives in materials and manufacturing processes that will allow the company to minimize its environmental impact.
    Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Such vague commands, the court said, leave agents guessing how to respond during fast-moving protest situations and expose them to possible contempt sanctions.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The auction house leaves behind its more cloistered Madison Avenue home for airy galleries in an 80-foot glass atrium, as well as an opulent neoclassical rotunda in the historic Steinway Hall.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The father and son, who sought asylum from Ecuador in December 2024, remain jailed in an ICE facility in Dilley, Texas.
    Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Officers immediately tackled and arrested Kazmierczak, who was jailed on a preliminary third-degree assault charge, police spokesperson Trevor Folke said.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • It should be presented as work accomplished.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
  • When asked what the city hopes to accomplish the lawsuit, the spokesperson declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Democrats have vowed not to support the funding measure unless there are guardrails placed on the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Sources with knowledge of the meeting say midfielder Edson Alvarez, who is on a season-long loan at Turkish side Fenerbahce, vowed to protect the midfielder on the pitch.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Damascus had asked Beirut to hand them over to continue their prison terms in Syria, but Lebanese judicial officials said Beirut would not release any attackers and that each must be studied and resolved separately.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026
  • The game effectively ended with an infamous play call by then-Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who opted to have then-quarterback Russell Wilson throw the ball at the one-yard line instead of handing it off to running back Marshawn Lynch.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Gillispie was released from prison in 2011, exonerated in 2017 and declared wrongfully imprisoned in 2021.
    Laura A. Bischoff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Cottingham, 79, has been imprisoned since his 1980 arrest.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commit. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on commit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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