Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense dedicates, present participle dedicating, past tense, past participle dedicated
1. verb
If you say that someone has dedicated themselves to something, you approve of the fact that they have decided to give a lot of time and effort to it because they think that it is important.
[approval]
Back on the island, he dedicated himself to politics. [VERB pronoun-reflexive + to]
Bessie has dedicated her life to caring for others. [VERB noun + to]
dedicatedadjective
He's quite dedicated to his students. [+ to]
...a company staffed by capable and dedicated people.
Synonyms: committed, devoted, sworn, enthusiastic More Synonyms of dedicate
dedicationuncountable noun
We admire her dedication to the cause of humanity. [+ to]
To be successful takes hard work and dedication.
Synonyms: inscription, message, address More Synonyms of dedicate
Synonyms: commitment, loyalty, devotion, allegiance More Synonyms of dedicate
2. verb
If someone dedicates something such as a book, play, or piece of music to you, they mention your name, for example in the front of a book or when a piece of music is performed, as a way of showing affection or respect for you.
She dedicated her first album to Woody Allen. [VERB noun + to]
This book is dedicated to the memory of my mother. [VERB noun to noun]
Synonyms: offer, address, assign, inscribe More Synonyms of dedicate
3. verb [usually passive]
If a building or church is dedicatedto someone, a formal ceremony is held to show that the building will always be associated with them.
The church is dedicated to St Mary of Bec. [V-ed to n]
dedicationuncountable noun [oft NOUNof noun]
...the dedication of the Holocaust Museum.
Some 250 guests attended the dedication ceremony.
Synonyms: inscription, message, address More Synonyms of dedicate
Synonyms: consecration, ordaining, sanctification, hallowing More Synonyms of dedicate
More Synonyms of dedicate
dedicate in British English
(ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪt)
verb(transitive)
1. (often foll by to)
to devote (oneself, one's time, etc) wholly to a special purpose or cause; commit wholeheartedly or unreservedly
2. (foll by to)
to address or inscribe (a book, artistic performance, etc) to a person, cause, etc as a token of affection or respect
3. (foll by to)
to request or play (a record) on radio for another person as a greeting
4.
to assign or allocate to a particular project, function, etc
5.
to set apart for a deity or for sacred uses; consecrate
adjective
6. an archaic word for dedicated
Derived forms
dedicatee (ˌdedicaˈtee)
noun
dedicator (ˈdediˌcator)
noun
dedicatory (ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪtərɪ, ˈdɛdɪkətərɪ, -trɪ) or dedicative (ˈdediˌcative)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Latin dēdicāre to announce, from dicāre to make known, variant of dīcere to say
dedicate in American English
(ˈdɛdɪkɪt; for v., ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪt)
adjective
1. Archaic
dedicated
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈdediˌcated or ˈdediˌcating
2.
to set apart for worship of a deity or devote to a sacred purpose
3.
to set apart seriously for a special purpose; devote to some work, duty, etc.
she dedicated her life to serving the poor
4.
to address or inscribe (a book, artistic performance, etc.) to someone or somethingas a sign of honor or affection
5. US
to open formally (a public building, fair, etc.)
6. Law
to devote to public use
SIMILAR WORDS: deˈvote
Derived forms
dedicator (ˈdediˌcator)
noun
Word origin
ME dedicat < L dedicatus, pp. of dedicare, to consecrate, declare < de-, intens. + dicare, to proclaim < dicere, to say: see diction
Examples of 'dedicate' in a sentence
dedicate
`The donation required to dedicate a site of this size would be $30,000.
West, Charles STAGE FRIGHT (1999)
Our Memorial Scheme offers the opportunity to dedicate a woodland site as a Perpetual Memorial to a named individual or group.
West, Charles STAGE FRIGHT (1999)
It would be insulting to dedicate a work of fiction, essentially a work of entertainment, to them.
Dobbs, Michael WALL GAMES (1999)
In other languages
dedicate
British English: dedicate VERB
If you say that someone has dedicated themselves to something, you approve of the fact that they have decided to give a lot of time and effort to it because they think that it is important.
Back on the island, he dedicated himself to politics.
American English: dedicate
Brazilian Portuguese: dedicar
Chinese: 投身
European Spanish: dedicar
French: consacrer
German: sich widmen
Italian: dedicare
Japanese: >ささげる時間や労力を
Korean: 헌신하다
European Portuguese: dedicar
Latin American Spanish: dedicar
Chinese translation of 'dedicate'
dedicate
(ˈdɛdɪkeɪt)
vt
to dedicate one's time/life to (doing) sth把时(時)间(間)/一生奉献(獻)给(給)(做)某事 (bǎ shíjiān/yīshēng fèngxiàn gěi (zuò) mǒushì)
[book, song]把 ... 献(獻)给(給) (bǎ ... xiàn gěi)
to dedicate o.s. to sth致力于(於)某事 (zhìlìyú mǒushì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to devote (oneself or one's time) wholly to a special purpose or cause
He dedicated himself to politics.
Synonyms
devote
He decided to devote the rest of his life to music.
give
a memorial to a man who gave his life for his country
apply
The rule applies where a person owns stock in a company.
commit
The government have committed billions of pounds to the programme.
concern
occupy
pledge
surrender
give over to
2 (verb)
Definition
to inscribe or address (a book, piece of music, etc.) to someone as a token of affection or respect
This book is dedicated to the memory of my sister.
Synonyms
offer
address
She addressed the envelope with the wrong name.
assign
inscribe
The book is inscribed: To John Arlott from Laurie Lee.
3 (verb)
Definition
to set apart for sacred uses
The church is dedicated to a saint.
Synonyms
consecrate
The church was consecrated in 1234.
bless
Bless this couple and their loving commitment to one another.
sanctify
Modern marriages do not need to be sanctified to be valid.
set apart
hallow
make sacred
Additional synonyms
in the sense of address
Definition
to mark (a letter or parcel) with an address
She addressed the envelope with the wrong name.
Synonyms
label,
inscribe,
superscribe
in the sense of apply
Definition
to be relevant or appropriate
The rule applies where a person owns stock in a company.
Synonyms
be relevant,
concern,
relate,
refer,
be fitting,
be appropriate,
be significant,
fit,
suit,
pertain,
be applicable,
bear upon,
appertain
in the sense of bless
Definition
to call upon God to protect
Bless this couple and their loving commitment to one another.