commit

[[t]kəmɪ̱t[/t]]

♦♦

commits, committing, committed

1) VERB If someone commits a crime or a sin, they do something illegal or bad.

[V n] I have never committed any crime...

[V n] This is a man who has committed murder.

[V n] ...the temptation to commit adultery.

2) VERB If someone commits suicide, they deliberately kill themselves.

[V n] There are unconfirmed reports he tried to commit suicide.

3) VERB If you commit money or resources to something, you decide to use them for a particular purpose.

[V n to/for n/-ing] They called on Western nations to commit more money to the poorest nations...

The government had committed billions of pounds for a programme to reduce acid rain...

[V n] He should not commit American troops without the full consent of Congress.

4) VERB If you commit yourself to something, you say that you will definitely do it. If you commit yourself to someone, you decide that you want to have a long-term relationship with them.

[V pron-refl to -ing/n] I would advise people to think very carefully about committing themselves to working Sundays...

[V pron-refl] I'd like a friendship that might lead to something deeper, but I wouldn't want to commit myself too soon...

[V to n] You don't have to commit to anything over the phone. [Also V n to n]

Derived words:

committed ADJ-GRADED oft ADJ to n/-ing

He said the government remained committed to peace.

...a committed socialist.

5) VERB: with brd-neg If you do not want to commit yourself on something, you do not want to say what you really think about it or what you are going to do.

[V pron-refl on n] It isn't their diplomatic style to commit themselves on such a delicate issue...

[V pron-refl] She didn't want to commit herself one way or the other.

6) VERB: usu passive If someone is committed to a hospital, prison, or other institution, they are officially sent there for a period of time.

[be V-ed to n] Arthur's drinking caused him to be committed to a psychiatric hospital. [Also be V-ed]

Syn:

admit

7) VERB: usu passive In the British legal system, if someone is committed for trial, they are sent by magistrates to stand trial in a crown court.

[be V-ed for n] He is expected to be committed for trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

8) VERB If you commit something to paper or to writing, you record it by writing it down. If you commit something to memory, you learn it so that you will remember it.

[V n to n] She had not committed anything to paper about it...

[V n to n] I'll repeat that so you can commit it to memory.