Word
devoted
Phoneticsde·vot·ed, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈvoʊtɪd/
UK/dɪvˈəʊtɪd/
Definitions
01loyal and loving
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having great love or loyalty for someone or something.
adj. characterised by strong emotional attachment or profound loyalty toward a person, cause, or pursuit.
“He is a devoted father who spends every weekend playing with his children.”
“Despite the long hours and modest pay, she remained a devoted teacher, spending her evenings preparing lessons that would engage her most struggling students.”
Usage
Always followed by the preposition 'to' when an object is specified.
Pitfall
He is devoted with his work.
He is devoted to his work.
The adjective 'devoted' always takes the preposition 'to'.
Antonyms
02dedicated to a purpose
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. used only for one particular purpose or activity.
adj. exclusively dedicated or consecrated to a specific function, purpose, or deity.
“This small chapel is devoted to the memory of the soldiers who died in the war.”
“The final section of the report is devoted entirely to the long-term environmental impacts of the proposed industrial expansion.”
Usage
Often used in religious or highly formal administrative contexts.
Synonyms
03past tense of devote
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. the past tense of 'devote', meaning you gave your time or effort to something.
v. the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'devote', meaning to give or apply entirely to a particular activity.
“She devoted her whole life to helping the poor in her city.”
“Having devoted several decades to the study of ancient manuscripts, the professor was finally able to publish his definitive translation.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Her devoted mom Elizabeth ( Melanie Lynskey ) has cancer, and thinks she should maybe wait until after the run to tell Soph the awful truth, so as not to spoil her big moment.” “Straus and his wife devoted much of their time and money to this work.” Etymology
From devote + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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