Commit

/kəˈmɪt/

verbIntermediate🔥Very CommonAction
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase1 question

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To pledge oneself to a course of action; to do something that is wrong or illegal.

/kəˈmɪt/

verbneutralIntermediate
Action

To be dedicated to a cause or task.

I commit to exercising daily.

💡 Simply: To promise to do something or to be involved in something seriously. Like promising your friend you'll go to the park, and then actually going!

👶 For kids: To promise to do something.

More Examples

2

He committed a serious crime.

How It's Used

General

"She committed to finishing the project by Friday."

Law

"He was committed to a mental institution."

2

An act or instance of committing something, especially a crime.

/ˈkɒmɪt/

nounnegativeAdvanced
Action

A wrongful act; an act of committing something (e.g., a crime).

The commit was a serious offense.

💡 Simply: A bad action that someone did. It's often used when talking about crimes.

👶 For kids: Something bad that someone did.

More Examples

2

The police are looking for the perpetrator of the commit.

How It's Used

Law Enforcement

"The police are investigating the recent bank commit."

Tip:Remember it as the action resulting from the verb 'commit'.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

commit to memory

To learn something so well that you can remember it perfectly.

"I committed the poem to memory for the recital."

From Old French *commettre, from Latin committere, from com- "together" + mittere "to send, let go".

The word 'commit' has maintained its core meaning of 'to entrust' or 'to pledge' throughout history, although its usage in the context of crimes has become more prominent.

Memory tip

Think of 'com' (together) + 'mit' (send) - sending yourself fully into something.

Word Origin

Original meaning

"com- (together) + mittere (to send)"

commit suicidecommit a crimecommit oneself tocommit to memory

Common misspellings

comitcomitt

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written