commitment

[ kuh-mit-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act of committing.
2. the state of being committed.
3. the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself.
4. a pledge or promise; obligation:

   We have made a commitment to pay our bills on time.

5. dedication; allegiance:

   They have a sincere commitment to religion.

6. perpetration or commission, as of a crime.
7. consignment, as to prison.
8. confinement to a mental institution or hospital:

   The psychiatrist recommended commitment.

9. an order, as by a court or judge, confining a person to a mental institution or hospital.
10. Law. a written order of a court directing that someone be confined in prison; mittimus.
11. Parliamentary Procedure. the act of referring or entrusting to a committee for consideration.
12. Stock Exchange.
    1. an agreement to buy or sell securities.
    2. a sale or purchase of securities.

commitment

/ kəˈmɪtmənt /

noun

1. the act of committing or pledging
2. the state of being committed or pledged
3. an obligation, promise, etc that restricts one's freedom of action
4. the referral of a bill to a committee or legislature
5. Also called (esp formerly)mittimus law a written order of a court directing that a person be imprisoned
6. the official consignment of a person to a mental hospital or prison
7. commission or perpetration, esp of a crime
8. a future financial obligation or contingent liability

Other Words From

• noncom·mitment noun
• precom·mitment adjective
• self-com·mitment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of commitment¹

First recorded in 1605–15; commit + -ment

Example Sentences

So now imagine you could do that same thought experiment, but not just doing it at random, doing it at a large scale while having some metric of screening for those who actually had both the greatest competence as well as the greatest commitment and knowledge of the Constitution.

From Slate

“What is it the Jesuits say? Service is love in action. I know it’s corny. But I’m going to love this community by being of service to it. So that’s my commitment.”

From Los Angeles Times

She encouraged those distraught over the election to seek spaces of healing and pledged UC’s “unwavering commitment” to continue serving society with higher learning, research and public service.

From Los Angeles Times

Here, Kane makes the assumption that every player - perhaps more pertinently every club - shares this unswerving commitment to England as the top priority above all else.

From BBC

Uefa said on Tuesday that Coote had been withdrawn from an international commitment this week and on Wednesday a spokesperson added: "The Uefa Referees Committee immediately suspended David Coote until further notice on 11 November - in advance of the upcoming round of Uefa matches - when it became aware of his inappropriate behaviour."

From BBC

Related Words

• engagement
• guarantee
• need
• pledge
• promise
• responsibility