DEVOTE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does devote mean? 

• DEVOTE (verb)
  The verb DEVOTE has 3 senses:

1. give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

2. dedicate

3. set aside or apart for a specific purpose or use

  Familiarity information: DEVOTE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEVOTE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they devote    ... he / she / it devotes   
Past simple: devoted   
Past participle: devoted   
-ing form: devoting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give

Context example:

consecrate your life to the church

Hypernyms (to "devote" is one way to...):

apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)

Verb group:

give (offer in good faith)

give; sacrifice (endure the loss of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "devote"):

consecrate; vow (dedicate to a deity by a vow)

rededicate (dedicate anew)

apply (apply oneself to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

devotee (an ardent follower and admirer)

devotion (religious zeal; the willingness to serve God)

devotion (commitment to some purpose)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Dedicate

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

devote; give; pay

Context example:

pay attention to

Hypernyms (to "devote" is one way to...):

cerebrate; cogitate; think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)

Verb group:

give; sacrifice (endure the loss of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Set aside or apart for a specific purpose or use

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

this land was devoted to mining

Hypernyms (to "devote" is one way to...):

reserve (hold back or set aside, especially for future use or contingency)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Then he would devote himself to the more serious affairs of life.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Jo meantime devoted herself to literature and Beth, who remained delicate long after the fever was a thing of the past.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

If I read his character right he will devote his whole energies to revenging himself upon me.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This is a day to devote to signing a contract, negotiating a deal, traveling, or giving a speech.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer Center is a basic research facility devoted to the understanding of the fundamental biology of human cancer.

(Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer Center, NCI Thesaurus)

Fed up and rested, as soon as he was loosed he devoted all his energy to getting over the ground.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

She would have lived with her god-mother, and we should have been devoted to one another.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It is a subject to which I have devoted some little attention.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“It would be better, I imagine, if you let harems alone and devoted your attention to lonely and inoffensive-looking seals,” was what she said.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Do not fear any of us, we are all devoted to this cause, and to-day shall see the end.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)