commit

Definition of commitnext
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 An Austrian court has convicted a man who was charged last year in connection with a plot to commit an act of mass terror at a Taylor Swift Eras Tour show in Vienna in August 2024, the Associated Press reports. Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 29 May 2026 Speak gently and commit to a doable action. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026 Penn State commit Jamir Dean is the lone flip target. Jeff Sentell, AJC.com, 29 May 2026 Before the recess, Senate Republicans pressed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to agree to restrictions on where the fund’s taxpayer money could go — such as barring people who had assaulted police officers and committed other violent offenses during 2021’s Capitol riot. Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for commit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commit
Verb
  • Since then, the state has executed six other inmates with the method, and Louisiana has used it once.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 June 2026
  • The compromise packages executed a 28 KB payload that steals credentials from AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, password managers, and over 90 developer tool configurations.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • Hudson Williams, the Canadian sweetheart behind the smash hit Heated Rivalry, has pledged his allegiance to the English department.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
  • Escalona, who recently replaced Commissioner Joe Carollo, pledged on the campaign trail last year that one of his first legislative items would be creating an online salary portal.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Several students testified that Anthony was repeatedly asked to leave the Memorial High School tent before the confrontation escalated.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
  • That would leave the US emergency oil reserve with the least amount of oil since the early 1980s, when the economy was smaller and consumed less energy.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • The 36-year-old was jailed for most of his life.
    Marianne Love, Daily News, 4 June 2026
  • If others remain jailed, Lukashenko keeps something to trade later.
    Tatsiana Kulakevich, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • This change was partly accomplished by the creation of the Access Artist Advisory Board, which was dedicated to making things more accessible — physically and emotionally, but also financially.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
  • So what’s Aiyuk accomplishing by bashing the 49ers repeatedly on social media?
    Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • Large insurers such as UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente and Humana have vowed to reduce the use of prior authorizations.
    Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 29 May 2026
  • Amid an ongoing trade war with the US, Carney has vowed to double Canadian ⁠exports to other markets in the next decade and signed ​more ⁠than 20 economic and security deals in the last year.
    Reuters May 28, CNN Money, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Tovar ambushed Kilian’s first offering, pulling a two-run homer over the left-field fence to hand the Giants their fourth straight loss.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 30 May 2026
  • If the 5 in 5 rule means the clock is ticking on their college eligibility as soon as they’re handed a high school diploma, more Minnesota kids are likely to leave the prep ranks early.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • The Lieser family of Jewish industrialists was persecuted by the Nazis, including being imprisoned, and lost almost all their possessions to Nazi seizure.
    Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 5 June 2026
  • Four ex-Presidents are currently imprisoned.
    Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commit. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on commit

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster