# dedicated

/ˈdɛdəkeɪtəd/ (US) · /dˈɛdɪkˌeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dedicated
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. hard-working and loyal

adjective · CEFR B2

working very hard at something because you care about it or believe it is important.

For teachers: characterised by singular devotion or loyalty to a particular person, cause, or task.

- She is a dedicated teacher who stays late every day to help her students.
- The success of the charity is largely due to a small team of dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly for over a decade.

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

### 2. for one specific purpose

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

used for only one particular job or purpose.

For teachers: exclusively allocated to or designed for a specific function or user.

- The hospital has a dedicated entrance for emergency vehicles only.
- High-frequency traders often require a dedicated server to ensure the lowest possible latency during market fluctuations.

Usage: Commonly used in technical, computing, and administrative contexts.

### 3. gave time or effort

verb · CEFR B2

gave a lot of your time and effort to a specific goal.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'dedicate', meaning to commit oneself or a resource to a particular course of action.

- He dedicated his life to protecting the local forest from builders.
- The scientist dedicated her entire career to finding a cure for this rare disease, eventually publishing her findings last year.

Usage: As a transitive verb, it requires a direct object and usually the preposition 'to'.

## Examples

- She dedicated her life to helping the poor.
- The scientist dedicated years of research to finding a cure for the rare disease.
- The author dedicated the final chapter of his memoir to the mentors who had supported his early career during his most difficult years.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.