commitment

noun

com·​mit·​ment kə-ˈmit-mənt How to pronounce commitment (audio)
1
a
: an agreement or pledge to do something in the future
a commitment to improve conditions at the prison
especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date
b
: something pledged
the commitment of troops to the war
c
: the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled
a commitment to a cause
2
a
: an act of committing to a charge or trust: such as
(1)
: a consignment to a penal or mental institution
filed a petition for commitment
(2)
: an act of referring a matter to a legislative committee
b

Examples of commitment in a Sentence

His commitment to both his professions is admirable: currently a professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, he also holds an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Erica Wagner, New York Times Book Review, 8 Feb. 2009
In their mission statement, the editors bragged of their firm commitment to equality and social justice, but their philosophy didn't prevent them from summoning Lindsey to perform all their menial tasks. Kim Wong Keltner, The Dim Sum Of All Things, 2004
… I actually finished writing two more episodes of the tale before other commitments forced me to shelve it. Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Aug. 1991
His commitment to a blue-water navy expressed his determination to project power. George F. Will, Newsweek, 22 Nov. 1982
We've got commitments from several charities to donate food and clothing. the government's commitment of troops to the region The church has a commitment to helping the poor. The boss noticed her strong commitment to her work. No one doubts your commitment to the cause.
Recent Examples on the Web The renewal should be considered a positive sign of CBS’ commitment to year-round development as broadcast continues to focus on the strategy instead of spending millions of dollars on multiple pilots in a three-month time span that often doesn’t allow programs to find their creative footing. Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2024 Her unwavering drive, commitment to excellence, and proactive advocacy reflect not only her exceptional academic prowess but also her maturity and leadership as a young adult. Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Mar. 2024 Since marrying in 2018, the couple has proved their continued love and commitment with their mutual praise and support of each other. Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Her commitment to the film's eroticism and go-for-broke attitude distracted some from what the movie was really trying to say. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 4 Mar. 2024 Indicating its commitment, the organization’s total budget for 2024 stands at an all-time high of $42 million, up from $40.4 million in 2023. Alex Ritman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 That may be in part because France is proud of its commitment to secularism. Karla Adam, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 Nonetheless, Kennedy carried his challenge to the convention floor by trying to have all delegates released from their commitments. Ron Elving, NPR, 3 Mar. 2024 This lawsuit claimed that the partnership with Microsoft has led OpenAI away from its initial commitment to open-source development in the field of Artificial General Intelligence. Detroit Free Press, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commitment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

commit + -ment

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of commitment was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near commitment

Cite this Entry

“Commitment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commitment. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

commitment

noun
com·​mit·​ment kə-ˈmit-mənt How to pronounce commitment (audio)
1
: an act of committing
2
a
: an agreement or pledge to do something in the future
b
: something pledged
financial commitments

Medical Definition

commitment

noun
com·​mit·​ment kə-ˈmit-mənt How to pronounce commitment (audio)
: a consignment to a penal or mental institution

Legal Definition

commitment

noun
1
: an act of committing: as
a
: placement in or assignment to a prison or mental hospital
petition for commitment
compare incompetent, interdiction

Note: Commitment to a mental health facility is called civil commitment when it is not part of a criminal proceeding. Civil commitment proceedings are initiated by the patient, in the case of voluntary commitment, or by someone (as a family member or government agent) authorized by statute to petition for the patient's involuntary commitment. Some form of a hearing and periodic review is required in involuntary commitment proceedings. A criminal defendant may be committed to a mental hospital as a result of being found incompetent to stand trial, not guilty by reason of insanity, or incompetent to be sentenced.

b
: an act of referring a matter to a legislative committee
c
: a warrant committing someone to a prison
2
: an agreement or promise to do something in the future
especially : a promise to assume a financial obligation at a future date
cannot meet their loan commitments

More from Merriam-Webster on commitment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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