Meaning & use
commit
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
To promise or give your time, effort, or resources to a particular activity or purpose.
Grammar: Can be used with an object (commit resources) or without (commit to something).
Patterns
- commit to something
- commit yourself to something
- commit something to something
She committed herself to finishing the project by Friday.
The company committed significant funds to the new research.
He's afraid to commit to a long-term relationship.
verbtransitive
To carry out a crime, sin, or other wrongful act.
Grammar: Takes a direct object: commit a crime, commit murder.
Patterns
- commit a crime
- commit an offense
- commit suicide
He was arrested for committing fraud.
The gang committed a series of robberies.
She confessed to committing the murder.
verbtransitive
To send someone to a prison, hospital, or other institution officially.
Grammar: Often used in passive: be committed to a hospital.
Patterns
- commit someone to something
- be committed to prison
The judge committed him to five years in prison.
She was committed to a mental hospital for treatment.
verbtransitive or intransitivecomputingtechnical
In computing, to save changes to a file or database so they become permanent.
Grammar: Used in version control; can be used with or without an object.
Patterns
- commit changes
- commit to a repository
Don't forget to commit your changes before switching branches.
The developer committed the code to the main branch.
Word forms
| third person singular | commits |
|---|---|
| past tense | committed |
| past participle | committed |
| -ing form | committing |
Common combinations
- commit a crime
- He committed a crime and was sent to prison.
- commit suicide
- The report says he committed suicide.
- commit to something
- She committed to the project for two years.
- commit resources
- The government committed more resources to education.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pledge
- More formal and often involves a serious or public promise, while commit is broader and can be used for everyday promises.
- dedicate
- Focuses on giving time or effort to a noble cause; commit is more neutral.
- perpetrate
- A formal word used only for crimes or harmful acts; commit is more general.
Opposites
Word family
- commitment noun
- A promise or dedication to something.
- committed adjective
- Loyal and dedicated to a cause or activity.
- committal noun
- The act of sending someone to prison or a hospital.
Commonly confused: commit or comment?
commit vs comment
Comment means to say something about something; commit means to promise or do something wrong. They sound similar but have different meanings.
Practice
Choose the correct word: The company decided to _____ more money to the project.
Choose one answer.
Commit means to give resources to a purpose. Comment doesn't fit because it means to make a remark; commission means to order or authorize; commute means to travel regularly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “commit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.