commit

USkuh-MIT/kəˈmɪt/

11 meanings of commit

1
promiseverbtransitive or intransitive
To promise to do something, or to make a choice that you cannot easily take back.
Like signing your name on a paper: once you sign, it is hard to change your mind.
She committed herself to finishing the project by June.
Before you commit to the plan, think about the cost.
UsageSay commit to a plan or commit to doing something.
Similarbind, obligate, pledge
Note
2
do wrongverbtransitive
To do something bad, like a crime or a sin.
He said he would never commit a crime, no matter how poor he got.
The man went to jail because he committed a serious robbery.
UsageSay commit a crime. Use do for good things.
Similarperpetrate
3
verbtransitive
To officially send someone to prison or to a hospital for mental illness.
Doctors committed the man to a hospital after he tried to hurt himself.
A judge can commit someone to a mental hospital for their own safety.
UsageOften be committed to a hospital.
Oppositerelease, discharge

Less common meanings

4
verbtransitive
In computing, to save changes so they become permanent, for example in shared code.
Like putting your finished page into the class's shared folder so everyone can see it.
She committed her code at the end of each day.
Always commit your changes before you go home.
UsageSay commit your code to the main branch.
Note
5
nouncountable
In computing, a saved set of changes, such as new code added to a shared project.
Her last commit fixed the broken login page.
The team made over fifty commits this week.
UsageSay make a commit.
6
college recruitnouncolloquialUScountable
A student, often an athlete, who has promised to go to a certain college.
The team's newest commit is a star quarterback from Texas.
She became the basketball program's first commit of the year.
UsageA player who commits to a college is a commit.
Similarrecruit, signee
Note
7
entrustverbtransitive
To give something to a person so they will take care of it.
She committed her savings to the care of the bank.
Parents commit their children to the teacher's care every morning.
UsageUse commit something to someone or to their care.
Similarentrust, consign, hand, deliver
Note
8
do wrongverbobsoleteintransitive
To happen or take place, especially something bad like a crime.
Note
9
sex outside marriageverbobsoleteintransitive
To do wrong, especially to have sex with someone you are not married to.
[K]eepe thy words Iusſtice, ſweare not, commit not, with mans ſworne Spouſe;
c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”Here, commit means to have sex with someone outside marriage, a sinful act.
Note
10
verbobsoleteintransitive
To enter a contest or fight against another person.
For, in theſe ſtrifes, and on ſuch perſons, were as wretched to affect a victorie, as it is vnhappy to be committed with them.
1616, Ben Jonson, “Poetaster. [To the Reader.]”Here, committed means matched against them in a fight or contest.
Note
11
verbobsoletetransitive
To mix things up or confuse one thing with another.
Harry whoſe tuneful and well meaſur'd Song / Firſt taught our Engliſh Muſick how to ſpan / Words with juſt note and accent, not to ſcan / With Midas Ears, committing ſhort and long;
1673, John Milton, “[Sonnet] XIII. To Mr. H. Lawes, on his Aires.”Here, committing means mixing up, confusing short sounds with long ones.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin committo, which came from com- meaning "together" and mitto meaning "to send." It reached English through Middle English committen.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 5 facts

Commit derives from Latin committo through Middle English committen. en.wiktionary.org
Latin committo combines the prefix com- and mitto. en.wiktionary.org
Com- is the form of con- used before m. en.wiktionary.org
The components mean together and to send. en.wiktionary.org
The intervening Middle English form was committen. en.wiktionary.org