DEVOTE Definition & Meaning

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devote

[ dih-voht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

devoted, devoting.

to give up or appropriate to or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc.:
to devote one's time to reading.
Synonyms: , ,
to appropriate by or as if by a vow; set apart or dedicate by a solemn or formal act; consecrate:
She devoted her life to God.
to commit to evil or destruction; doom.

devote

/ ��ɪˈ��əʊ�� /

verb

to apply or dedicate (oneself, time, money, etc) to some pursuit, cause, etc
obsolete.
to curse or doom

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Derived Forms

��ˈ��ǳٱ𳾱�Գ�, noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of devote¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin ��ŧ��ō�ٳܲ� “vowed,” past participle of ��ŧ��Ǳ�ŧ�� “to vow,” from ��ŧ- de- + ��Ǳ�ŧ�� “to vow” ( vow )

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of devote¹

C16: from Latin ��ŧ��ō�ٳܲ� devoted, solemnly promised, from ��ŧ��Ǳ�ŧ�� to vow; see de- , vow

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Synonym Study

Devote, dedicate, consecrate share the sense of assigning or applying someone or something to an activity, function, or end. Devote, though it has some overtones of religious dedication, is the most general of the three terms: He devoted his free time to mastering the computer. Dedicate is more solemn and carries an ethical or moral tone: We are dedicated to the achievement of equality for all. Consecrate, even in nonreligious contexts, clearly implies a powerful and sacred dedication: consecrated to the service of humanity.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Broccoli said in a statement at the time, “I feel it is time to focus on my other projects,” while Wilson said he will devote his time to art and charitable projects.

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As the online rumors escalated, "Girls Gone Bible" devoted its March 21 podcast to addressing the controversy.

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Garcia, an athlete, would devote himself to cheer routines and stunts in high school — he was later awarded a cheerleading scholarship to the University of Nebraska, where he studied exercise science.

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He devoted his adult years to championing the causes of people he believed were treated as second-class citizens, including immigrants, farmworkers, women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

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“You knew where you stood with him at all times. He was devoted to making the stories that we produced as much of a straight-shooting operation as he himself was.”

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