devote

verb

de·​vote di-ˈvōt 

dē-

devoted; devoting

transitive verb

1

: to commit by a solemn act

devoted herself to serving God

2

: to give over or direct (time, money, effort, etc.) to a cause, enterprise, or activity

Part of the lecture was devoted to taking questions from the audience.

She devoted her life to public service.

devotement

di-ˈvōt-mənt 

dē-

noun

Synonyms

• allocate
• consecrate
• dedicate
• earmark
• give up (to)
• reserve
• save
• set by

Choose the Right Synonym for devote

devote, dedicate, consecrate, hallow mean to set apart for a special and often higher end.

devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective.

devoted his evenings to study

dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose.

dedicated her life to medical research

consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality.

consecrate a church to the worship of God

hallow, often differing little from dedicate or consecrate, may distinctively imply an attribution of intrinsic sanctity.

battlegrounds hallowed by the blood of patriots

Examples of devote in a Sentence

I conscientiously devote several hours every weekend to playing with my dog.

planning a diplomatic career, she's been intensely devoting herself to the study of foreign languages in college

Recent Examples on the Web

Chief information security officers and cybersecurity teams are devoting more time than ever protecting against ransomware. —Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024

At Gonzaga under Trivers, the Eagles devoted substantial effort to strengthening their cohesion. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 26 Oct. 2024

Common sense dictates that the only two rational paths would be to flee Ukraine for another country’s safety or devote oneself fully to the war effort. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2024

Bennett — who studied at the Heritage School of Interior Design and is currently finishing an architecture degree at the University of Hawaii — has devoted significant time and resources to social activism, and that quest for justice permeates his design aesthetic. —Jennifer Bringle, WWD, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin devotus, past participle of devovēre, from de- + vovēre to vow

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing devote

• devote to

Kids Definition

devote

verb

de·​vote di-ˈvōt 

devoted; devoting

1

: to set apart for a special purpose

devote land to farming

2

: to give (oneself) up to

devoted herself to her career