English Reference
adjective · verb

committed

adj. · v.
US /kəˈmɪtɪd/ UK /kəmˈɪtɪd/ com·mit·ted

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.loyal and willing to give your time and energy to something you believe in.

    adj.demonstrating a strong dedication or loyalty to a specific cause, activity, or person.

    Simple

    She is a committed teacher who stays late every day to help her students.

    In context

    The organisation is looking for committed volunteers who can pledge at least ten hours a week to the conservation project.

    Usage

    Often followed by the preposition 'to' and a noun or gerund.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.being in a long-term, exclusive relationship with a partner.

    adj.involved in an exclusive and long-term romantic relationship.

    Simple

    They have been in a committed relationship for over five years.

    In context

    While many of his friends preferred casual dating, he was searching for a committed partner to start a family with.

    singleunattached
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.the past tense of 'commit', used when someone did something wrong or made a firm promise.

    v.the past tense and past participle of 'commit', referring to the execution of an act or the making of a binding pledge.

    Simple

    The police caught the man who committed the robbery last week.

    In context

    Once the company committed the funds to the new research facility, there was no possibility of reversing the board's decision.

    Usage

    Commonly collocates with 'crime', 'suicide', or 'funds'.

    Pitfall
    He committed a mistake in the report. He made a mistake in the report.

    In English, you 'commit' crimes or sins, but you 'make' mistakes.

Usage committed to maintaining · committed to ensuring · committed any of the crimes

The UK, they added, was "committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's illegal invasion".

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026

Who committed this murder – if it even is a murder?

The Guardian· 15 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated