devote

UK: /dɪˈvəʊt/ US: /dɪˈvoʊt/ ,(di vōt′)

Inflections of 'devote' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

devotes

v 3rd person singular

devoting

v pres p

devoted

v past

devoted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•vote /dɪˈvoʊt/   v. [~ + object + to + object] , -vot•ed, -vot•ing. 

1. to apply (something) to a particular purpose;
   set apart or dedicate to:
   to devote more of his time to study.

See -vot-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•vote  (di vōt′), v.t., -vot•ed, -vot•ing. 

1. to give up or appropriate to or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc.:
   to devote one's time to reading.
2. to appropriate by or as if by a vow;
   set apart or dedicate by a solemn or formal act;
   consecrate:
   She devoted her life to God.
3. to commit to evil or destruction;
   doom.

• Latin dēvōtus vowed (past participle of dēvovēre), equivalent. to dē- de- + vōtus; see vote, vow
• 1580–90

Synonyms

• 1. assign, apply, consign.
• 2. Devote, dedicate, consecrate share the sense of assigning or applying someone or something to an activity, function, or end.
  Devote, though it has some overtones of religious dedication, is the most general of the three terms:
  He devoted his free time to mastering the computer.
  Dedicate is more solemn and carries an ethical or moral tone:
  We are dedicated to the achievement of equality for all.
  Consecrate, even in nonreligious contexts, clearly implies a powerful and sacred dedication:
  consecrated to the service of humanity.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

devote / dɪˈvəʊt/ verb (transitive)

1. to apply or dedicate (oneself, time, money, etc) to some pursuit, cause, etc

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin dēvōtus devoted, solemnly promised, from dēvovēre to vow; see de-, vow