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Devote vs. Dedicate — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 1, 2023
Devote means to give time or resources to a cause or activity. Dedicate often implies a ceremonial commitment to a purpose.
Devote vs. Dedicate — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Devote and Dedicate

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Key Differences

Devote implies giving one’s time, efforts, or self wholeheartedly to an activity, cause, or person. Dedicate typically suggests a formal or ceremonious allotment of something to a specific purpose or person. When one devotes, it is often a personal, sometimes emotional commitment. Dedication can be seen as a more public declaration, often involving a ritual or official action.
To devote oneself is to commit with passion or intensity, often over a period of time. To dedicate something is to set it aside or to declare that it serves a certain goal, often in honor of or in connection to a larger idea or person. Devotion is often related to a sustained effort or loyalty, whereas dedication can be a one-time act or announcement.
Devote often conveys a sense of personal involvement and consistent attention. Dedicate, on the other hand, may not imply ongoing engagement, but rather a moment of assigning value or purpose. One may devote their life to service, showing continuous dedication; a building, however, can be dedicated once and stands as a symbol of that moment.
In terms of relationships or personal pursuits, 'devote' tends to be used more frequently. For example, you can devote yourself to your family. 'Dedicate' might be used when referring to a book being dedicated to a loved one, which is often a one-off gesture.

Comparison Chart

Focus

Personal involvement and effort
Formal or ceremonial allocation
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Time Frame

Ongoing, long-term commitment
Can be a single act or event

Intensity

Implies passion or intense commitment
May not imply ongoing effort

Usage

Common in personal contexts
Common in public or formal contexts

Example

Devoting time to study
Dedicating a park to a community leader

Compare with Definitions

Devote

To give all or a large part of one's time or resources to (a person, activity, or cause).
She devoted her life to science.

Dedicate

To open (a building, for example) formally to the public.
They dedicated the new library with a ceremony.

Devote

To be loyal or dedicated in thought or action.
He devoted his morning to reading.

Dedicate

To devote wholly and earnestly, as to some person or purpose.
She dedicated every spare moment to the project.

Devote

To set apart or dedicate by a solemn or formal act.
The poet devoted each verse to a different muse.

Dedicate

To commit (oneself) to a particular course of thought or action.
She dedicated herself to teaching.

Devote

Give all or most of one's time or resources to (a person or activity)
She devoted herself to fundraising
I wanted to devote more time to my family

Dedicate

Devote (time or effort) to a particular task or purpose
Joan has dedicated her life to animals

Devote

Invoke or pronounce a curse upon
The hostile army was devoted with dire execrations to the gods of war

Dedicate

To set apart for a deity or for religious purposes; consecrate.

Devote

To give or apply (one's time, attention, or self, for example) entirely to a particular activity, pursuit, cause, or person.

Dedicate

To set apart for a special use
Dedicated their money to scientific research.

Devote

To set apart for a specific purpose or use
Land devoted to mining.

Dedicate

To commit (oneself) to a particular course of thought or action
Dedicated ourselves to starting our own business.

Devote

To give one's time, focus one's efforts, commit oneself, etc. entirely for, on, or to a certain matter
They devoted their lives to following Jesus Christ.
I devoted this afternoon to repainting my study, and nothing will get in my way.

Dedicate

To address or inscribe (a literary work, for example) to another as a mark of respect or affection.

Devote

To consign over; to doom
To devote one to destruction
The city was devoted to the flames.

Dedicate

To open (a building, for example) to public use.

Devote

To execrate; to curse

Dedicate

To show to the public for the first time
Dedicate a monument.

Devote

(obsolete) devoted; addicted; devout

Dedicate

(transitive) To set apart for a deity or for religious purposes; consecrate.

Devote

To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames.
No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . shall be sold or redeemed.

Dedicate

(transitive) To set apart for a special use
Dedicated their money to scientific research.

Devote

To execrate; to curse.

Dedicate

(transitive) To commit (oneself) to a particular course of thought or action
Dedicated ourselves to starting our own business.

Devote

To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or compound; to attach; - often with a reflexive pronoun; as, to devote one's self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc.
Thy servant who is devoted to thy fear.
They devoted themselves unto all wickedness.
A leafless and simple branch . . . devoted to the purpose of climbing.

Dedicate

(transitive) To address or inscribe (a literary work, for example) to another as a mark of respect or affection.

Devote

Devoted; addicted; devout.

Dedicate

(transitive) To open (a building, for example) to public use.

Devote

A devotee.

Dedicate

(transitive) To show to the public for the first time
Dedicate a monument.

Devote

Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause;
She committed herself to the work of God
Give one's talents to a good cause
Consecrate your life to the church

Dedicate

(obsolete) Dedicated; set apart; devoted; consecrated.

Devote

Dedicate;
Give thought to
Give priority to
Pay attention to

Dedicate

One who dedicates themself, or who is dedicated, to the service of some leader, religion, etc.

Devote

Set aside or apart for a specific purpose or use;
This land was devoted to mining

Dedicate

Dedicated; set apart; devoted; consecrated.

Devote

To focus on or apply oneself to a particular area or subject.
The committee devoted its attention to the issue.

Dedicate

To set apart and consecrate, as to a divinity, or for sacred uses; to devote formally and solemnly; as, to dedicate vessels, treasures, a temple, or a church, to a religious use.
Vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, . . . which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord.
We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. . . . But in a larger sense we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground.

Devote

To bind oneself to an activity or pursuit.
They devoted themselves to volunteer work.

Dedicate

To devote, set apart, or give up, as one's self, to a duty or service.
The profession of a soldier, to which he had dedicated himself.

Dedicate

To inscribe or address, as to a patron.
He complied ten elegant books, and dedicated them to the Lord Burghley.

Dedicate

Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause;
She committed herself to the work of God
Give one's talents to a good cause
Consecrate your life to the church

Dedicate

Open to public use, as of a highway, park, or building;
The Beauty Queen spends her time dedicating parks and nursing homes

Dedicate

Inscribe or address by way of compliment;
She dedicated her book to her parents

Dedicate

Set apart to sacred uses with solemn rites, of a church

Dedicate

To set apart and consecrate to a deity or to a sacred purpose.
The ancient Romans dedicated a temple.

Common Curiosities

Does 'devote' imply a choice?

Yes, to devote is often a personal choice and commitment.

Can you 'dedicate' something without ongoing effort?

Yes, 'dedicate' can be a one-time act, like dedicating a building.

Can 'devote' be used interchangeably with 'dedicate'?

They are similar but not always interchangeable due to nuances in meaning.

Is 'dedicate' formal?

'Dedicate' often has a formal connotation, especially in ceremonies.

Is 'dedication' always public?

Often, but not necessarily; one can dedicate work privately.

Can 'devote' refer to a short-term commitment?

It can, but it usually implies a significant or long-term commitment.

Do 'devote' and 'dedicate' come from the same root?

No, they come from different Latin roots with different original meanings.

Is 'devote' more emotional than 'dedicate'?

Yes, 'devote' often carries a more personal, emotional commitment.

Can an object be 'devoted'?

Typically, 'devote' refers to actions by living beings, not objects.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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