2 syllables: com, mit. Stress on mit.
kuh-MIT
/kəˈmɪt/
commit is pronounced kuh-MIT (/kəˈmɪt/). It has two syllables (com-mit), with the stress on "mit". Commit (verb) means to dedicate oneself to a cause, activity, or obligation, or to perform a particular act. It implies a firm decision, sustained involvement, and responsibility for outcomes. In legal or formal contexts it can also mean to pledge or bind oneself to a course of action. The word spans both everyday and specialized usage, with emphasis on commitment, duration, and accountability.
Commit (verb) means to dedicate oneself to a cause, activity, or obligation, or to perform a particular act. It implies a firm decision, sustained involvement, and responsibility for outcomes. In legal or formal contexts it can also mean to pledge or bind oneself to a course of action. The word spans both everyday and specialized usage, with emphasis on commitment, duration, and accountability.
"She decided to commit to daily practice to improve her speaking skills."
"The organization will commit funds to the new program starting next quarter."
"He chose to commit to a long-term project despite the challenges."
Pronounce as /kəˈmɪt/ in US/UK/AU. The first syllable is a weak schwa /kə/ and the second is stressed /ˈmɪt/ with a short, lax /ɪ/ vowel followed by a crisp /t/. Think: kuh-MIT. Keep the /t/ aloft and clear, avoiding a strong pause between syllables. If you’re linking with ‘to,’ you’ll still end up with /kəˈmɪt/ in natural speech.
Common mistakes include: 1) Pronouncing the second syllable as /miːt/ with a long /iː/ as in ‘meet’. Correct to /ɪ/ as in ‘kit’. 2) Weak the first syllable too much, saying /kəmˈtɪt/ with a strong /m/ separation or misplacing stress. 3) Slurring the final /t/ into a stop-less form; ensure a crisp /t/ release, especially word-finally or before a pause. Focus on the unstressed first syllable schwa and the clear /t/ at the end.
In US/UK/AU, the primary stress remains on the second syllable /kəˈmɪt/. Vowel quality is similar, but rhoticity affects the preceding /kə/ slightly: US often keeps a more rounded /ə/ in rapid speech; UK may reduce to a shorter, crisper /ə/. Australian tends to be non-rhotic with a slightly broader vowel in the schwa, but still /kəˈmɪt/. Overall the main difference is subtle vowel and timing, not a change in the stressed syllable’s placement.
The difficulty lies in two phonetic details: the unstressed first syllable with a weak schwa /kə/ that can be under-produced, and the final /t/ which demands precise tongue-tip contact without a too-strong release in connected speech. The combination of a short, lax vowel and a crisp, unreleased or released /t/ in rapid speech makes it easy to mispronounce as /kəˈmɪt/ with a stretched vowel or as /ˈkɪmɪt/ if the stress shifts.
In fluent speech you’ll usually keep the stress on the second syllable /ˈmɪt/ consistently, but in rapid, casual talk you might hear a slight reduction in the first syllable, producing something closer to /kəˈmɪt/ with the first schwa weaker or shorter. The stress remains double-beat-like (secondary emphasis in some prosodic contexts) but is not typically reallocated to the first syllable in normal usage; focus stays on delivering a clear final /t/.
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Commit comes from the Latin verb committere, formed from com- (together, thoroughly) and mittere (to send, to let go). The sense evolved from “to entrust” or “to bring together in a single enterprise” to later mean “to pledge oneself” or “to devote” to a course of action. In Middle English, the term began with legal and binding connotations, as in committing a crime or a duty. The modern sense of personal dedication and obligation solidified during the Renaissance and into the modern era, aligning with the broader vocabulary of commitment in social, moral, and organizational contexts. First known use in English traces to the 14th century in legal phrases like “to commit to custody,” gradually expanding to general use “to commit oneself” by the 16th-17th centuries. The word’s versatility is preserved in phrases like “commit to memory” and “commitment,” which derive from the same root idea of binding or entrusting oneself to a path or action.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "commit" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "commit" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "commit"
-mit sounds
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