Commit — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /kə-ˈmit/ com·mit

Meaning & Definition of Commit

Commit (verb)

  1. to carry into action deliberately, perpetrate
  2. obligate, bind
  3. to pledge or assign to some particular course or use

Commit (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to carry through (as a process) to completion

    "accused of committing a felony"

    similar: accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, compass, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill, make, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through, go through
    related: bring about, effect, effectuate, implement, ace, nail, engage (in), practice, work (at), reduplicate, reenact, repeat, actualize, attain, realize, complete, end, finish, wind up
    near: fail, skimp, slight, slur

  2. to obligate by prior agreement

    "we were committed to finishing the project"

    similar: engage, mortgage, pledge, troth
    related: affiance, betroth, plight, promise, swear, vow, contract, enlist, enroll, sign on, sign up, overcommit
    near: renege

  3. to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

    "commit only some power to each official"

    similar: commend, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust, give, give over, hand, hand over, leave, pass, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest
    related: confer, grant, assign, deal (out), dispense, disperse, distribute, divide, hand in, release, relinquish, submit, surrender, turn in, yield, bequeath, hand down, hand on, will, advance, lend, loan, furnish, supply, recommit, redeliver, retransfer, retransmit
    opposite: hold, keep, retain
    near: detain, hold back, reserve, withhold, own, possess, accept, receive, take in, occupy, take, take over

  4. to put in or as if in prison

    "The defendant was committed to prison following the guilty verdict."

    similar: confine, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up)
    related: constrain, limit, restrain, restrict, shut, bar, gate, apprehend, arrest, bust (slang), capture, catch, detain, nab, pick up, pinch, seize, impress, shanghai, hold, impound, keep, bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel
    opposite: discharge, free, liberate, release
    near: emancipate, enfranchise, manumit, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Commit

The most common words with a similar meaning to Commit:

accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, compass, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill, make, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through, engage, mortgage, pledge, troth, commend, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust, give, give over, hand, hand over, leave, pass, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Commit

Words with the opposite meaning of Commit:

hold, keep, retain, discharge, free, liberate, release

Related Words for Commit

bring about, effect, effectuate, implement, ace, nail, engage (in), practice, work (at), reduplicate, reenact, repeat, actualize, attain, realize, complete, end, finish, wind up, affiance, betroth, plight, promise, swear, vow, contract, enlist, enroll, sign on, sign up

Near Antonyms of Commit

fail, skimp, slight, slur, renege, detain, hold back, reserve, withhold, own, possess, accept, receive, take in, occupy, take, take over, emancipate, enfranchise, manumit, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

Word Forms of Commit

Inflections: committed, committing

Derived words: committable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Commit

Middle English committen "to give in trust (to), delegate authority (to), engage in," borrowed from Anglo-French committer, commettre, going back to Latin committere "to join together, engage, place in the keeping of, entrust, bring about, carry out (a crime)," from com- com- + mittere "to release, let go, send (for a purpose)" admit

First known use: 15th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Commit

Words & Phrases Containing Commit

commit a crime, commit (something) to memory, commit (something) to paper/writing

Frequently Asked Questions about Commit

What does "Commit" mean?

"Commit" means to carry into action deliberately, perpetrate. As a verb, it is defined as: to carry into action deliberately, perpetrate. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Commit"?

Other words for "Commit" include accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, compass, do and execute. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Commit" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Commit"?

There are 137 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Commit". Common alternatives include accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, compass, do, execute, follow through (with) and fulfill.

What is the opposite of "Commit"?

Antonyms of "Commit" include hold, keep, retain, discharge, free, liberate and release. Near antonyms include fail, skimp, slight and slur.

How do you use "Commit" in a sentence?

Examples of "Commit" in a sentence: "accused of committing a felony"; "we were committed to finishing the project"; "commit only some power to each official".

Is "Commit" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Commit" is a verb.

Is "Commit" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Commit" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Commit"?

"Commit" is pronounced /kə-ˈmit/ and divided into syllables as com·mit.