Commitment is a state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, or relationship, demonstrated through sustained effort, persistence, or obligation. It implies reliability and perseverance over time, often requiring sacrifice or discipline. As a noun, it can refer to a pledge, engagement, or the act of committing to a course of action in personal, professional, or societal contexts.
"Her commitment to ongoing education helped her advance in her career."
"The charity's commitment to transparency earned public trust."
"They showed their commitment by dedicating several hours a day to practice."
"Financial commitment is required before beginning the project."
Commitment comes from the verb commit, which itself derives from the Latin committere, meaning to join, entrust, or bring together. The Latin root com- means ‘together’ and mittere means ‘to send’ or ‘to throw.’ In the late Middle English period, commitment began to be used to describe the act of binding oneself to a course of action, obligation, or pledge. Over time, its sense broadened from legal or formal binding (e.g., commitments in contracts or promises) to more general personal and professional dedication. By the 19th and 20th centuries, commitment acquired nuanced uses in psychology and management, capturing the perseverance, loyalty, and engagement that individuals show toward goals, work teams, and relationships. First known uses appear in legal and religious contexts where a person’s vow or obligation was central, evolving into the modern sense of enduring engagement across various domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Commitment" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Commitment" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Commitment"
-ent sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /kəˈmɪt.mənt/ in US/UK/AU. The first syllable is unstressed /kə/ with a schwa. The second syllable carries primary stress: /ˈmɪt/. The final syllable is /mənt/ with a short, unstressed schwa preceding /nt/. Say: kuh-MIT-muhnt. Keep the 't' clear but gentle; avoid a strong vowel between /t/ and /m/. Reference audio: standard dictionaries or Forvo pronunciations.
Common mistakes: (1) over-pronouncing the first unstressed syllable as /kɒ/ or /kɪ/ instead of a weak /kə/. (2) Misplacing the stress, say-ing /ˈkɪm-ɪt/ or releasing /t/ into a vowel like /tənt/. (3) Slurring the final /nt/ into /n/ or /d/, producing /mənt/ or /mɛnt/. Correction: keep the second syllable as /ˈmɪt/ with a clear stop before /mənt/, and end with a crisp /nt/ without extra vowel. Practice with minimal pairs: com-MIT-ment vs com-MI-TMENT; focus on the mid syllable vowel and final consonant cluster.
US/UK/AU share /kəˈmɪt.mənt/ but differ subtly: US often reduces the final syllable more with a lighter /ə/; UK may have a slightly closer /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a less rhotic quality, while AU tends to maintain a clear /ɪ/ with a more even syllable timing. Rhoticity isn’t a major factor here; focus is on the second syllable /ˈmɪt/ and final /mənt/. Listen to standard audio from reputable dictionaries for precise variants.
The difficulty lies in the two-morpheme composition with stress on the second syllable and a cnondensed final cluster. The /t/ in the middle and the /mnt/ ending require precise timing and articulation to avoid inserting a vowel. The unstressed initial /kə/ reduces and the final /nt/ blends quickly when spoken in rapid speech. Pay attention to the glide-free /m/ before the /nt/ and keep the vowel reduced in the first syllable.
A unique aspect is maintaining the syllabic boundary between /ˈmɪt/ and /mənt/ without inserting an extra vowel sound. English tends to compress the final syllable while preserving a short /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable. You’ll hear a crisp, light /t/ followed by a brief /m/ before the /ə/ of /mənt/. Emphasize the IPA sequence /kəˈmɪt.mənt/ and practice the rapid transition between /t/ and /m/ without vowel intrusion.
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