First Known Use: 1586
Dictionary
devote
verb de·vote \di-ˈvōt, dē-\
de·vot·edde·vot·ing
Definition of DEVOTE
transitive verb
1
: to commit by a solemn act <devoted herself to serving God>
2
: to give over or direct (as time, money, or effort) to a cause, enterprise, or activity
— de·vote·ment \-ˈvōt-mənt\ noun
See devote defined for English-language learners
See devote defined for kids
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Origin of DEVOTE
Latin devotus, past participle of devovēre, from de- + vovēre to vow
Related to DEVOTE
- Synonyms
- allocate, consecrate, dedicate, earmark, give up (to), reserve, save, set by, set apart, set aside
Synonym Discussion of DEVOTE
devote, dedicate, consecrate, hallow mean to set apart for a special and often higher end. devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective <devoted his evenings to study>. dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose <dedicated her life to medical research>. consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality <consecrate a church to the worship of God>. hallow, often differing little from dedicate or consecrate, may distinctively imply an attribution of intrinsic sanctity <battlegrounds hallowed by the blood of patriots>.
Rhymes with DEVOTE
afloat, airboat, banknote, bareboat, bluecoat, blue note, box coat, bumboat, capote, car coat, catboat, C-note, compote, connote, coyote, cutthroat, deep throat, demote, denote, dovecote, dreamboat, eighth note, emote, endnote, fireboat, fistnote, flatboat, foldboat, footnote, frock coat, gemot, grace note, greatcoat, gunboat, half note, headnote, Hohhot, houseboat, housecoat, iceboat, johnboat, keelboat, keynote, lab coat, lifeboat, longboat, mash note, one-note, peacoat, pigboat, promote, Q-boat, raincoat, Rajkot, redcoat, remote, rowboat, sack coat, sailboat, sauceboat, scapegoat, seed coat, shape note, sheepcote, showboat, sore throat, speedboat, steamboat, stoneboat, straw vote, strep throat, Sukkoth, surcoat, surfboat, swan boat, tailcoat, topcoat, towboat, trench coat, tugboat, turncoat, U-boat, unquote, wainscot, whaleboat, whitethroat, whole note, woodnote, workboat
DEVOTE Defined for Kids
devote
verb de·vote \di-ˈvōt\
de·vot·edde·vot·ing
Definition of DEVOTE for Kids
1
: to set apart for a special purpose <The land was devoted to wildlife preservation.>
2
: to give up to entirely or in part <He devoted himself to finding a cure.>
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