From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcommitcom‧mit /kəˈmɪt/ ●●● S2 W2 verb (committed, committing) 1 CRIMEDOcrime [transitive] to do something wrong or illegal Women commit fewer crimes than men.commit murder/rape/arson etc Brady committed a series of brutal murders.2 → commit suicide3 → commit adultery4 SAY THAT somebody WILL DO somethingDOsay you will do something [intransitive, transitive] to say that someone will definitely do something or must do somethingcommit somebody to doing something He has clearly committed his government to continuing down the path of economic reform.commit somebody to something Meeting them doesn’t commit us to anything.commit yourself I’d committed myself and there was no turning back.commit yourself to (doing) something The banks have committed themselves to boosting profits by slashing costs.5 CERTAINLY/DEFINITELYrelationship [intransitive, transitive] to give someone your love or support in a serious and permanent way Anna wants to get married, but Bob’s not sure he wants to commit.commit to He has not yet committed to any of the candidates.6 money/time [transitive]USE something to decide to use money, time, people etc for a particular purposecommit something to something A lot of money has been committed to this project.7 for trial [transitive] British English to send someone to be tried in a court of law The two men were committed for trial at Bristol Crown Court. 8 prison/hospitalMHTELL/ORDER somebody TO DO something [transitive] to order someone to be put in a hospital or prisoncommit somebody to something The judge committed him to prison for six months.9 → commit something to memory10 → commit something to paper → committedCOLLOCATIONSnounscommit a crime/offencePeople who commit crimes end up in jail.commit murder/rape/fraud etcThe couple were accused of committing murder.commit a robberyShe later admitted committing the robbery.commit an act of violence/terrorism/aggression etcAnyone committing an act of terrorism will be severely punished.commit treason (=the crime of being disloyal to your country)He was accused of committing treason against the King of England.commit genocide (=the crime of attempting to kill a race of people)In some countries, genocide is being committed every day.commit an atrocity (=commit a terrible and violent act)During the civil war both sides committed numerous atrocities.commit a sin (=do something that is wrong according to your religion)He confessed to having committed the sin of adultery. → See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
commit• The state of Florida will commit $58 million for a new research facility.• Fernando wasn't married but he was committed.• They have no evidence a crime was committed.• What he ought to be sorry about is the crime Archer committed.• It now seems likely that Mason was sent to prison for an offence he never committed.• Baldwin, the poor schlemiel, is talked into committing a murder, which he botches badly.• Brady committed a series of brutal murders.• She later claimed that she did not realize she was committing an offense.• Detectives believe that the crime was committed at around 7.30 pm.• The murder must have been committed between 7 and 10pm.• Most violent crimes are committed by young men under the age of 25.• Women commit far fewer crimes than men.• And when the priest came to commit poor old Eddy's body to the flames, Dyson felt something else.• What is the price tag for keeping decent, nonviolent people from having to commit the very act that Davis committed?• But she is not committed to this place anymore.commit murder/rape/arson etc• A third man had committed murder.• And I like the conflict a murder entails, and what leads somebody to commit murder.• He said he questioned whether there was enough evidence to convict his client on conspiracy to commit murder.• I have come into this chapel to commit murder.• Over 20 days, Jacobs methodically developed his theory that Davis kidnapped Polly with the intent of committing rape.• Seven men, all from Bristol, admitted conspiracy to commit arson.• If the security forces are thick on the ground and loyalist gunmen commit murder it is the result of collusion.commit yourself to (doing) something• He committed himself to a singularly foolish plan for Empire Free Trade.• I haven't wanted to commit myself to anyone until now.• The World Health Organisation has called for individual developing countries to commit themselves to decade programmes.• How far does she commit herself to Proteus, and does she really criticise herself?• There is also the consideration that she seems to be flirting with the possibility of committing herself to re-entering mainstream education locally.• A couple of years ago this kind of scenario seemed plausible to thousands of people who committed themselves to self-build co-operatives.• A searcher becomes a believer when he chooses and commits himself to the consequences of his choice.commit to• Young people still need to learn how to commit to a job and have goals for themselves.• The church is committed to changing the role it allows women.• The organization needs volunteers who can commit to work four hours a week.commit something to something• They are unwilling to commit that many soldiers to the UN.were committed for trial• The two appeared before Swindon magistrates and were committed for trial at Bristol Crown Court.• The defendants were committed for trial at Mold Crown Court.From Longman Business Dictionarycommitcom‧mit /kəˈmɪt/ verb (past tense and past participle committed, present participle committing)1[intransitive, transitive] to say that someone will definitely do something or must do somethingcommit somebody to do somethingHe committed his government to support Thailand’s traditional free-market system.commit yourself to doing somethingSorry, I’ve already committed myself to working for Clive.commit to somethingShe would not want to commit to anything that would last more than a year.2[transitive] to decide to use money, time, people etc for a particular purposecommit something to somethingA client needs to approve an idea before committing resources to it.3[transitive]LAW to do something wrong or illegalWe are confident that we have not committed any fraud.→ See Verb tableOrigin commit (1300-1400) Latin committere, from com- ( → COM-) + mittere “to send” 