devote

[ dih-voht ]
See synonyms for devote on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),de·vot·ed, de·vot·ing.
  1. to give up or appropriate to or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc.: to devote one's time to reading.

  2. to appropriate by or as if by a vow; set apart or dedicate by a solemn or formal act; consecrate: She devoted her life to God.

  1. to commit to evil or destruction; doom.

Origin of devote

1
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin dēvōtus “vowed,” past participle of dēvovēre “to vow,” from dē- de- + vovēre “to vow” (see vow)

synonym study For devote

2. Devote, dedicate, consecrate share the sense of assigning or applying someone or something to an activity, function, or end. Devote, though it has some overtones of religious dedication, is the most general of the three terms: He devoted his free time to mastering the computer. Dedicate is more solemn and carries an ethical or moral tone: We are dedicated to the achievement of equality for all. Consecrate, even in nonreligious contexts, clearly implies a powerful and sacred dedication: consecrated to the service of humanity.

Other words for devote

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use devote in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for devote

devote

/ (dɪˈvəʊt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to apply or dedicate (oneself, time, money, etc) to some pursuit, cause, etc

  2. obsolete to curse or doom

Origin of devote

1
C16: from Latin dēvōtus devoted, solemnly promised, from dēvovēre to vow; see de-, vow

Derived forms of devote

  • devotement, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012