commit
kuh-MIHT
Commit (verb) means to carry out a crime, mistake, or wrongdoing. Example: “He was arrested for committing fraud.”
verb
1
To carry out a crime, mistake, or wrongdoing.
"He was arrested for committing fraud."
"She admitted to committing an error in the report."
"Anyone who commits an offence on the train may be fined."
2
To pledge or bind oneself to a course of action.
"They committed to finishing the project by June."
"I can't commit to a weekly class when my shifts keep changing."
"The couple decided to commit themselves fully to raising their children abroad."
3
To save a set of changes permanently, especially in software or version control.
"Don't forget to commit your changes before you push to the repository."
"She committed the bug fix with a short note explaining what had changed."
"Our team tries to commit small changes often rather than one huge update."
How to use commit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo carry out an act (especially wrongdoing), to pledge yourself to something, or to save changes permanently.
Common pairings
commit a crime
commit to a plan
commit changes
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Word forms
- Plural
- commits
- Third person singular
- commits
- Past tense
- committed
- Archaic forms
- committest, committedst, committeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Anyone who _____ an offence on the train may be fined.
Etymology
From Latin committere ("to bring together, entrust"), from com- + mittere ("to send") — related to "mission."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “commit” mean?
The word “commit” means to carry out a crime, mistake, or wrongdoing. In plain terms, to carry out an act (especially wrongdoing), to pledge yourself to something, or to save changes permanently.
How do you pronounce “commit”?
“Commit” is pronounced kuh-MIHT (/kəˈmɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “commit” in a sentence?
Here is “commit” used in a sentence: “He was arrested for committing fraud.”
What part of speech is “commit”?
“Commit” is a verb.
Where does the word “commit” come from?
The word “commit” comes from Latin. From Latin committere ("to bring together, entrust"), from com- + mittere ("to send") — related to "mission.".
Is “commit” a common word?
“Commit” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “commit” have?
“Commit” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to carry out a crime, mistake, or wrongdoing.
What is the difference between "commit" and "commit to"?
Without "to," "commit" usually means to carry out something wrong, as in "commit a crime" or "commit an error." With "to," as in "commit to a plan," it means to pledge or bind yourself to a course of action.
Which preposition is used with "commit" when making a pledge?
When "commit" means to pledge or dedicate yourself, it is followed by "to," as in "commit to a project" or "commit to someone." You commit yourself to a goal, not "commit for" or "commit on" it.
What is the difference between "commit" and "dedicate"?
"Commit" means to bind or pledge yourself to a course of action, often as a firm decision. "Dedicate" is close in meaning but places more emphasis on devoting time, effort, or resources wholeheartedly to a cause.
Why do we say "commit a crime" rather than "make a crime"?
In English, "commit" is the standard verb paired with wrongdoing such as a crime or offence, so we say "commit a crime." "Make a crime" is not idiomatic; "make" collocates with words like "mistake" instead.
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