What does "commitment" mean?
The act or an instance of committing, putting in charge, keeping, or trust, especially:; The act of sending a legislative bill to committee for review.
Commitment
/kəˈmɪtmənt/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act or an instance of committing, putting in charge, keeping, or trust, especially:; The act of sending a legislative bill to committee for review.
- Grammar: commitment is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: dedication, loyalty, allegiance, committal.
- Useful contrasts: abandoning, abjuration, abjurations.
- Usage evidence: You want commitment, don't you?
How to use "commitment"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "commitment" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "commitment" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "commitment" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "commitment" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "commitment" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "dedication" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "commitment", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act or an instance of committing, putting in charge, keeping, or trust, especially:; The act of sending a legislative bill to committee for review. countable, uncountable
- 2 the official act of consigning a person to confinement (as in a prison or mental hospital) wordnet
- 3 The act or an instance of committing, putting in charge, keeping, or trust, especially:; Official consignment sending a person to prison or a mental health institution. countable, uncountable
- 4 the act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action wordnet
- 5 Promise or agreement to do something in the future, especially countable, uncountable
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 an engagement by contract involving financial obligation wordnet
- 7 Promise or agreement to do something in the future, especially:; Act of assuming a financial obligation at a future date. countable, uncountable
- 8 the trait of sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose wordnet
- 9 Being bound emotionally or intellectually to a course of action or to another person or persons. countable, uncountable
- 10 a message that makes a pledge wordnet
- 11 The trait of sincerity and focused purpose. countable, uncountable
"Citizenship in the original Greek concept was not simply the granting of rights to do as one pleased; it also demanded a commitment to serve the interests of the many via personal sacrifice."
- 12 Perpetration as in a crime or mistake. countable, uncountable
- 13 State of being pledged or engaged. countable, uncountable
- 14 The act of being locked away, such as in an institution for the mentally ill or in jail. countable, uncountable
Example
"You want commitment, don't you?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "commitment"?
Common synonyms include: dedication, loyalty, allegiance, committal, consignment, pledge.
How do you use "commitment" in a sentence?
You want commitment, don't you?
How do you pronounce "commitment"?
Pronounced /kəˈmɪtmənt/.
Etymology
From commit + -ment.