Meaning & use
commitments
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“commitments” is a form of “commitment”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounusually plural
Duties or promises that you have agreed to and that take up your time or money.
Grammar: Often plural: family commitments, financial commitments.
Patterns
- commitments to something
- commitments at work
I can't join the trip because of family commitments.
He has too many work commitments this month.
They struggle to meet their financial commitments.
nouncountable
Strong promises to support or do something, shown by action over time.
Grammar: Often followed by to: commitments to the environment.
Patterns
- commitments to something
- make commitments
The company made commitments to reduce its waste.
Governments have renewed their commitments to the climate agreement.
She has strong commitments to her students.
Word forms
| singular | commitment |
|---|
Common combinations
- family commitments
- Family commitments keep her busy on weekends.
- meet commitments
- We must meet our commitments to our customers.
- financial commitments
- His financial commitments include a mortgage and a car loan.
- honor commitments
- A good leader honors commitments.
- prior commitments
- I have prior commitments that evening.
- make commitments
- Be careful not to make commitments you cannot keep.
Synonyms and how they differ
- obligations
- Obligations are things you must do by duty or law, while commitments can be things you freely promised.
- responsibilities
- Responsibilities are duties that come with a role, while commitments are things you agreed to.
- pledges
- Pledges are solemn public promises, while commitments can be quiet agreements on your time.
Opposites
Word family
- commit verb
- to promise or dedicate yourself
- commitment noun
- a promise or dedication
- committed adjective
- dedicated and loyal
- noncommittal adjective
- unwilling to state an opinion or promise
Commonly confused: commitments or committees?
commitments vs committees
Committees are groups of people who make decisions, while commitments are promises or duties.
Practice
I'd love to come to the party, but I have other _____ that evening.
Choose one answer.
Commitments means duties already agreed to. Committees are groups, comments are remarks, and commitment's is a possessive, not a plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “commitments”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.