commit
High (B1)Neutral to formal (informal uses less common)
Definition
Meaning
To pledge or bind oneself to a certain course, action, or responsibility; to carry out or perform an act, often with dedication or obligation.
To dedicate resources, time, or oneself to something; to transfer something for safekeeping or confinement; to carry out a (usually negative) action like a crime; in computing, to finalize changes to a database.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a sense of obligation, permanence, or dedication. Can have positive (commit to a relationship), negative (commit a crime), or neutral (commit changes) connotations based on context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Minor differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'committed to hospital' slightly more common in UK, 'committed to the hospital' in US).
Connotations
No significant difference.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
commit [sth] (e.g., commit a crime)commit [oneself] to [sth/doing sth] (e.g., commit herself to the cause)be committed to [sth/doing sth] (e.g., he is committed to improving)commit [sb] to [sth] (e.g., commit him to prison)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “commit to memory”
- “commit to paper”
- “commit to the grave”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often used for dedicating resources ('commit budget', 'commit manpower') or making binding agreements ('commit to a delivery date').
Academic
Common in discussing dedication to research or theory, and in philosophy/ethics regarding actions and responsibility.
Everyday
Used for relationships, promises, plans, and negative actions like crimes.
Technical
In computing/version control: 'commit changes' to a repository. In law: 'commit for trial'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company will commit £2 million to the project.
- He was committed to a psychiatric hospital by the court.
American English
- The team needs to commit more resources to marketing.
- She committed the instructions to memory before the test.
adverb
British English
- The team worked committedly to meet the deadline.
- She listened committedly to his story.
American English
- He argued committedly for the policy change.
- They followed the plan committedly.
adjective
British English
- She is a committed environmentalist.
- We need committed volunteers for the charity shop.
American English
- He is a committed member of the local church.
- Their committed effort led to success.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I commit to being on time.
- He did not commit a crime.
- The government has committed to reducing pollution.
- It's a serious decision to commit to a mortgage.
- Before you commit to the contract, have a lawyer review it.
- The activist was committed to the cause for decades.
- The software engineer must commit the code changes to the main branch.
- His philosophical writings explore what it means to commit fully to an ethical life.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COM(MIT) = COMing together + MIT (like 'perMIT') = coming together to permit/pledge an action.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMITMENT IS A BOND/TIE (tied to an obligation), COMMITTING AN ACT IS TRANSFERRING (transferring something into reality or into custody).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'commit a crime' as 'совершить преступление' when the context implies dedication ('commit to' ≠ 'совершить к').
- Do not confuse 'committed' (adjective meaning dedicated) with 'committed' (past tense of the verb).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I commit to help you.' Correct: 'I commit to helping you.' (requires gerund after 'to')
- Incorrect: 'He was committed for theft.' (ambiguous: dedicated to theft or sent to prison for it?)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'commit' is CORRECT?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it's common in negative collocations, it is equally common in positive/neutral contexts meaning 'to dedicate' (commit to a goal, commit resources).
The preposition 'to' is used, and it must be followed by a noun/noun phrase or a gerund (-ing form). Example: 'commit to a plan' or 'commit to improving'.
'Commit' implies a stronger, more binding, or more long-term obligation, often involving sustained action or resources. 'Promise' is a broader assurance, which can be for a single future action.
Yes. As an adjective, it means 'dedicated and loyal'. Example: 'a committed teacher'. It is pronounced the same as the past participle.