committed; committing
1
: to carry into action deliberately : perpetrate
commit a crime
commit a sin
2
3
a
: to put into charge or trust : entrust
… commit all executive, legislative, and judicial powers to one man …—
Arthur T. Vanderbilt
Arthur T. Vanderbilt
b
: to place in a prison or mental institution
The patient was committed by the court to a mental hospital.
He was committed to the state penitentiary for 10 years
c
: to consign or record for preservation
commit it to memory
d
: to put into a place for disposal or safekeeping
The chaplain committed the sailor's body to the deep.
e
: to refer (something, such as a legislative bill) to a committee for consideration and report
Synonyms
Examples of commit in a Sentence
The massacre was committed by the rebel army.
The contract commits the company to finishing the bridge by next fall.
He keeps delaying his decision because he doesn't want to commit himself.
They have not yet committed to a particular course of action.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hagerty appears committed to raising its profile with the general public as well as well-heeled car collectors who travel the country to exhibit vehicles and compete for trophies.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
This is good news for leaders committed to culture work.
—Michael C. Bush, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
In 2020, the health care giant established the Institute for Health Equity, a part of Norton Healthcare committed to investing $20 million over five years to address health needs in underserved areas of the community.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024
Should the candidate be found to be safe and efficacious in clinical testing, IAVI is committed to making its Lassa vaccine affordable and accessible to all populations in need.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2024
The release noted store management is committed to completing all existing customer orders.
—Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024
Editor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
More than 140 countries in 2021 committed to end deforestation by the end of the decade, a goal that requires huge declines in destruction each year, World Resources Institute forests director Rod Taylor said.
—Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024
Local leaders have been careful not to link the two issues, as most kids who miss school are not committing crimes.
—Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
This is good news for leaders committed to culture work.
—Michael C. Bush, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
In 2020, the health care giant established the Institute for Health Equity, a part of Norton Healthcare committed to investing $20 million over five years to address health needs in underserved areas of the community.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024
Should the candidate be found to be safe and efficacious in clinical testing, IAVI is committed to making its Lassa vaccine affordable and accessible to all populations in need.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2024
The release noted store management is committed to completing all existing customer orders.
—Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024
Editor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
More than 140 countries in 2021 committed to end deforestation by the end of the decade, a goal that requires huge declines in destruction each year, World Resources Institute forests director Rod Taylor said.
—Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024
Local leaders have been careful not to link the two issues, as most kids who miss school are not committing crimes.
—Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near commit
Cite this Entry
“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commit. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commit
verb
com·mit
kə-ˈmit 
committed; committing
1
a
: to make secure or put in safekeeping : entrust
commit the poem to memory
b
: to place in a prison or mental institution
2
: bring about, perform
commit a crime
3
: to pledge or assign to some particular course or use
committed myself to a meeting on Thursday
Medical Definition
commit
transitive verb
com·mit
kə-ˈmit
committed; committing
: to place in a prison or mental institution
a patient committed by the court to a state hospital
Legal Definition
commit
verb
com·mit
committed; committing
1
b
: to place in a prison or mental hospital especially by judicial order
was found to be gravely disabled and was involuntarily committed to the Central Louisiana State Hospital—In the Matter of K.G., 531 So. 2d 575 (1988)
compare institutionalize, interdict
In the Matter of K.G., 531 So. 2d 575 (1988)
c
: to send (as a legislative bill) to a committee for consideration and report
commit the crime bill to the joint committee
2
: to carry into action deliberately : perpetrate
to define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I
: to obligate or bind oneself
would not commit to the irrevocable order
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