dedication

noun

ded·​i·​ca·​tion ˌde-di-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce dedication (audio)
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
dedicatory adjective

Did you know?

Dedication goes back to the 14th century in which it referred to the solemn act of dedicating something, such as a calendar day or a church, to a deity or to a sacred use. Centuries later, it came to be used for the act of devoting time and energy to a particular purpose. Nowadays, dedication commonly indicates the quality of being loyal or devoted to a cause, ideal, or purpose.

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 Working closely with family creates a sense of dedication and mutual support that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. Nathan Rice, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024 Mang Si's passion, leadership, dedication, reliability, and perseverance truly set her apart as an outstanding student and a member of the community. Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Sep. 2024 Now his life is replete with examples of his artistic dedication, with photography becoming Okwara’s main medium. Nick Mafi, Architectural Digest, 23 Sep. 2024 Phoenix’s dedication to the physicality of the role extended also to the dancing and singing sequences. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dedication 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dedication.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see dedicate entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dedication was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near dedication

Cite this Entry

“Dedication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dedication. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

dedication

noun
ded·​i·​ca·​tion ˌded-i-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce dedication (audio)
1
a
: an act or rite of dedicating to a divine being or to a sacred use
b
: a setting aside for a particular purpose
2
: the inscription dedicating a literary, musical, or artistic work to a person or cause
3
: self-sacrificing devotion
dedicatory adjective

Legal Definition

dedication

noun
ded·​i·​ca·​tion ˌde-di-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce dedication (audio)
: a giving up of property to public use that precludes the owner from asserting any further interest in it: as
a
: an intentional donation of land for public use that is accepted by the proper public authorities
b
: intentional or negligent surrender to the public of intellectual property that could have been protected by copyright or patent

More from Merriam-Webster on dedication

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!