View synonyms for dedicate

dedicate

[ verb ded-i-keyt; adjective ded-i-kit ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

, ded·i·cat·ed, ded·i·cat·ing.

to set apart and consecrate to a deity or to a sacred purpose:
The ancient Greeks dedicated many shrines to Aphrodite.
to devote wholly and earnestly, as to some person or purpose:
He dedicated his life to fighting corruption.
Synonyms: consecrate, pledge, commit
to offer formally (a book, piece of music, etc.) to a person, cause, or the like in testimony of affection or respect, as on a prefatory page.
(loosely) to inscribe a personal signature on (a book, drawing, etc., that is one's own work), usually with a salutation addressing the recipient.
to mark the official completion or opening of (a public building, monument, highway, etc.), usually by formal ceremonies.
to set aside for or assign to a specific function, task, or purpose:
The county health agency has dedicated one inspector to monitor conditions in nursing homes.

adjective

dedicated.

dedicate

/ ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪt; ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪtərɪ; ˈdɛdɪkətərɪ; -trɪ /

verb

often foll by to to devote (oneself, one's time, etc) wholly to a special purpose or cause; commit wholeheartedly or unreservedly
foll by to to address or inscribe (a book, artistic performance, etc) to a person, cause, etc as a token of affection or respect
foll by to to request or play (a record) on radio for another person as a greeting
to assign or allocate to a particular project, function, etc
to set apart for a deity or for sacred uses; consecrate

adjective

an archaic word for dedicated

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Derived Forms

ˈdediˌcator, noun
dedicatory, adjective
ˌdedicaˈtee, noun

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Other Words From

dedi·cator noun
over·dedi·cate verb (used with object) overdedicated overdedicating
pre·dedi·cate verb (used with object) prededicated prededicating
re·dedi·cate verb (used with object) rededicated rededicating

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Word History and Origins

Origin of dedicate¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English (verb and adjective) from Latin dēdicātus, past participle of dēdicāre “to declare, devote,” equivalent to dē- “from, away, out of” + dicāre “to indicate, consecrate,” akin to dīcere “to say, speak”; de-, dictate )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of dedicate¹

C15: from Latin dēdicāre to announce, from dicāre to make known, variant of dīcere to say

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Synonym Study

See devote.

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Example Sentences

Decide as a family to share cooking responsibilities and dedicate enough time for healthy meals.

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps Ham will dedicate a plank in the replica ark to his bowtied benefactor.

From The Daily Beast

Haley: Do you intend to dedicate the rest of your life, then, to the Negro cause?

From The Daily Beast

During his college days at Boston University, he decided to dedicate his life to comedy.

From The Daily Beast

Now the correspondents brazenly asked the president for permission to “dedicate it to your excellency.”

From The Daily Beast

By the Holy Ghost they are sanctified, that they may dedicate themselves to God, and thereafter serve him.

From Project Gutenberg

After he had been dismissed from West Point one year later, he decided to dedicate his life to writing.

From Project Gutenberg

I should like to dedicate it to you, because I believe you would find in it an echo of your most intimate thoughts and emotions.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you think it would look like affectation to dedicate the whole edition to his memory?

From Project Gutenberg

He completed, but did not dedicate, the palace, and finished the porticoes round it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

Dedham dedicated

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