commit

com|mit [ kə`mıt ] verb ***

▸ 1 do something illegal/wrong

▸ 2 (make someone) agree to something

▸ 3 say something/someone will be used

▸ 4 send someone to prison

▸ 5 in relationships

▸ 6 state someone is mentally ill

▸ 7 put someone/something in someone's care

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) transitive to do something illegal or morally wrong:

commit a crime/an offense: The study aims to find out what makes people commit crimes.

commit murder/a robbery etc.: conspiracy to commit murder

commit adultery: He had admitted to committing adultery.

commit suicide: Reports suggest that the singer committed suicide.

2. ) transitive to make someone agree or promise to do something:

commit someone to (doing) something: The agreement commits them to a minimum number of performances per year.

a ) intransitive to promise to do something:

commit to (doing) something: He would have to commit to spending several thousand dollars.

I do not want to commit to any particular date.

3. ) transitive to say that you will use available things or people for a particular purpose:

commit something to something: They'll have to commit more money to the project if they want it to succeed.

4. ) transitive to say officially that someone must go to prison

5. ) intransitive to decide to have a permanent relationship with someone:

He's not ready to commit.

6. ) transitive usually passive to officially state that someone is mentally ill and should go to a hospital to be treated

7. ) transitive FORMAL to give someone or something to someone else to take care of

commit something to memory

to study something carefully so that you can remember it exactly

commit something to paper/writing FORMAL

to write something on paper

commit yourself

1. ) to agree to do something important:

Take a little time to think before committing yourself.

commit yourself to (doing) something: I have committed myself to the job for at least the coming year.

2. ) to decide to have a permanent relationship with someone:

commit yourself to: It was the first time in his life that he had committed himself to a woman.

3. ) to give a definite opinion or make a definite decision:

She won't commit herself either way.