commitment
commitment — noun
1. A serious promise or agreement to carry out a future action or to support a pers
A serious promise or agreement to carry out a future action or to support a person, group, or plan.
Priya made a commitment to attend all the team meetings this month.
collocation: make a commitment
The mayor failed to honor her commitment to build more public parks.
collocation: honor a commitment
Getting married is a huge commitment that requires trust and honesty.
Tariq kept his commitment to go running every morning despite the cold weather.
- pledge
more formal and stronger than commitment; often used in official or political contexts
- promise
less formal than commitment; can be about small everyday things, whereas commitment suggests greater seriousness
- undertaking
more formal; emphasizes the task or responsibility being taken on
- refusal
the act of saying you will not do something
文法句型
commitment + to-infinitive
commitment + to + noun phrase
常見錯誤
2. The deep care and steady effort that you put into a task, cause, or activity bec
The deep care and steady effort that you put into a task, cause, or activity because you believe it truly matters.
Leila's commitment to her students is visible in the extra help she gives after class.
pattern: commitment to + [person/group]
Running a marathon takes months of training and serious commitment.
The volunteers showed incredible commitment to rebuilding the local library.
Dr. Okafor's commitment to medical research has saved many lives.
- dedication
very close in meaning; dedication often emphasizes putting in long hours, while commitment emphasizes emotional attachment
- devotion
stronger emotional tone; often used for family, faith, or romantic relationships
- loyalty
emphasizes faithfulness and staying with someone or something through difficulties
- apathy
lack of interest or concern
- indifference
not caring one way or the other
文法句型
commitment + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is uncountable and is typically followed by to + noun phrase (e.g., commitment to quality, commitment to the cause). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 describes an inner attitude or dedication, not a specific promise or agreement.
常見錯誤
3. A duty, task, or planned activity that you have agreed to do and that takes up s
A duty, task, or planned activity that you have agreed to do and that takes up some of your time.
With three young children and a full-time job, Rosa has many family commitments.
collocation: family commitments
Work commitments kept Theo at the office until late every evening last week.
collocation: work commitments
I cannot take on any new projects because I have too many commitments this month.
Weekend social commitments leave Hana very little time to relax.
- obligation
more formal; emphasizes a moral or legal duty rather than a planned activity
- responsibility
broader than commitment; includes duties you did not choose, whereas a commitment is usually something you agreed to
- engagement
more formal; often used for social plans or appointments
文法句型
possessive + commitment(s)
have commitments
用法筆記
This sense is always countable and often appears with a possessive adjective (my, his, their) or a noun modifier (work, family, school). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 focuses on the time-consuming obligation itself, not the act of promising.
常見錯誤
4. An agreement to spend a particular amount of money, often in regular payments, o
An agreement to spend a particular amount of money, often in regular payments, or to use resources for a specific purpose.
The company made a commitment of five million dollars to the new research centre.
pattern: commitment of [amount] to [project]
Signing a three-year lease is a significant financial commitment.
collocation: financial commitment
Banks usually require a commitment of resources before approving a large loan.
The charity received a commitment of two hundred thousand pounds from local businesses.
- financial pledge
more formal; often used for donations or fund-raising
- allocation
focuses on the act of setting aside money or resources, rather than promising to do so
文法句型
commitment + of + amount + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common in business, finance, and government contexts. When uncountable it refers to the act of promising resources (e.g., the commitment of funds). When countable it refers to a specific financial pledge (e.g., a commitment of £2 million).