dedication
B2Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
the quality of being committed to a task or purpose; the act of formally devoting something to a cause, person, or deity.
Also refers to an inscription or statement in a book or other work dedicating it to someone, or a ceremony of dedicating something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both a personal quality (commitment) and a formal, often public, act (ceremony, inscription). The personal quality sense is more common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Equally positive in both varieties, suggesting admirable commitment.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both corpora; slightly more common in American English in formal/business contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
dedication to (noun/gerund)dedication of (noun)with dedicationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “burn the midnight oil (related concept)”
- “go the extra mile (related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe an employee's strong commitment to their job or company goals.
Academic
Refers to sustained effort in research or study; also the formal inscription in a thesis or book.
Everyday
Describes someone's strong commitment to a hobby, family, or personal goal.
Technical
In computing, can refer to dedicating a server or resource to a specific task.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They will dedicate the new wing of the hospital tomorrow.
- She dedicates two hours each evening to her studies.
American English
- The mayor will dedicate the new park at noon.
- He dedicates himself fully to every project.
adverb
British English
- He worked dedicatedly on the proposal all weekend.
- She listened dedicatedly to the entire lecture.
American English
- The team practiced dedicatedly for the championship.
- He studied dedicatedly for the bar exam.
adjective
British English
- He is a dedicated supporter of the club.
- They made a dedicated effort to finish on time.
American English
- She is a dedicated teacher who works late every day.
- This is a dedicated phone line for emergencies.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her dedication to her family is very strong.
- The book has a dedication to the author's parents.
- Success in sport requires a lot of dedication and practice.
- We admire his dedication to helping others.
- Her unwavering dedication to the project ensured its ultimate success despite numerous setbacks.
- The official dedication of the memorial will take place next spring.
- The critic praised the pianist's technical mastery but questioned the artistic dedication behind the interpretation.
- His lifelong dedication to philately resulted in one of the world's most comprehensive collections.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'DEDI-CATION' as 'I DECIDED' to commit fully (the 'CAUSE/TION' makes it a noun).
Conceptual Metaphor
DEDICATION IS A FUEL / RESOURCE (e.g., 'She runs on pure dedication.'); DEDICATION IS A GIFT (e.g., 'He gave his dedication to the cause.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'посвящение' only in the sense of 'initiation into a secret'. The primary meaning is 'преданность', 'приверженность'. The book inscription sense is 'дарственная надпись'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dedication' as a countable noun for multiple types of commitment (e.g., 'He has many dedications' – better: 'He is dedicated to many things'). Confusing 'dedication' (noun) with 'dedicate' (verb).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'dedication' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Dedication' often implies commitment to a task, duty, or goal, focusing on effort and perseverance. 'Devotion' suggests deeper emotional or religious attachment to a person, cause, or deity.
Rarely. It is almost exclusively positive. A negative twist might be implied in phrases like 'blind dedication' or 'misplaced dedication', suggesting the commitment is unwise.
Primarily uncountable when referring to the quality of being dedicated ('her dedication is amazing'). It is countable when referring to formal ceremonies or inscriptions ('the book contained three dedications').
Use 'dedication to' + noun/gerund for the quality sense ('dedication to his work', 'dedication to helping'). Use 'dedication of' + noun for the formal act sense ('dedication of the monument').
Collections
Part of a collection
Personality Traits
B1 · 36 words · Describing character and personal qualities.
Explore