commitment
noun
com·mit·ment
kə-ˈmit-mənt 
1
a
: an agreement or pledge to do something in the future
a commitment to improve working conditions
Beasley gave a verbal commitment to the 49ers.—
Grant Wahl
Grant Wahl
especially
: an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date
making a major financial commitment
b
: something pledged
the commitment of troops to the war
c
: a promise to be loyal to someone or something
a commitment to a cause
questioned the company's commitment to safety
Getting a dog is a big commitment.
specifically
: the state of being in a serious usually long-term and monogamous emotional relationship
… they are afraid of commitment and are abandoning marriage. —Richard Settersten and Barbara E. Ray
Richard Settersten and Barbara E. Ray
d
: the attitude of someone who works hard to do or support something
shows commitment to her work
2
a
: an act of committing to a charge or trust: such as
(1)
: a consignment to a prison or an institution for the mentally ill
filed a petition for commitment
(2)
: an act of referring a matter to a legislative committee
b
: mittimus
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.
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
But Jerry Lewis never lost sight of his commitment to his community.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Invite a calm talk about time commitments, because fairness grows when expectations are measurable and both sides understand what happens if plans change.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
In a March 17 X post, Noboa reaffirmed the commitment to take on organized crime.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Speaking earlier this month at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, Netflix chief financial officer Adam Neumann was characteristically on-message, reiterating that the company’s philosophy on live sports is to remain hyper-selective about its commitments.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commitment
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Invite a calm talk about time commitments, because fairness grows when expectations are measurable and both sides understand what happens if plans change.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
In a March 17 X post, Noboa reaffirmed the commitment to take on organized crime.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Speaking earlier this month at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, Netflix chief financial officer Adam Neumann was characteristically on-message, reiterating that the company’s philosophy on live sports is to remain hyper-selective about its commitments.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commitment
Cite this Entry
“Commitment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commitment. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commitment
noun
com·mit·ment
kə-ˈmit-mənt
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
: a consignment to a prison or an institution for the mentally ill
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