Explanation at your level:
You use devote to say you give time to something. For example, 'I devote time to study.' It means you work hard on one thing.
When you devote your time, you choose to do one thing instead of others. It shows you care about your work or your hobbies.
The word devote is often used when talking about careers or passions. You can devote effort to a project, which means you are working very hard to make it successful.
In B2 English, devote is frequently used in the passive voice or with reflexive pronouns. 'He is devoted to his family' describes a deep emotional bond, while 'The committee devoted its resources to the project' is common in business.
At the C1 level, devote implies a high level of commitment. It is often used in academic or formal writing to describe the allocation of time or intellectual energy. You might see it in contexts like 'The author devotes an entire chapter to the history of the movement.'
At the C2 level, you appreciate the nuance of devote as a transformative act. It implies a total surrender of one's focus to a pursuit. It is used in literary and sophisticated discourse to describe the 'devotion' of one's life to an ideal, art, or service, carrying connotations of sacrifice and profound purpose.
30秒词汇
- Devote means to give time or energy.
- Always use 'to' after devote.
- It is a positive word for commitment.
- Commonly used in both work and personal life.
When you devote yourself to something, you are making a conscious choice to focus your energy and time on it. It is more than just doing a task; it is about showing dedication and loyalty. Think of it as putting your heart into a project or a person.
You can devote your time to a hobby, your energy to a cause, or your life to a career. It is a powerful word that suggests you are not easily distracted by other things. It shows that you have prioritized something above others because it holds significant value to you.
The word devote comes from the Latin word devovere, which means 'to vow' or 'to promise.' In ancient times, this often had a religious context, referring to a ritual where someone was 'vowed' or sacrificed to the gods.
Over centuries, the meaning shifted from a strict religious sacrifice to a more general sense of commitment. By the time it entered Middle English via Old French, it kept that sense of 'setting something aside' for a special purpose. It is fascinating how a word that once meant a solemn, sometimes scary, religious vow now describes how we pursue our modern passions and professional goals.
You will most often hear devote used with the preposition to. We say 'devote time to X' or 'devote yourself to Y.' It is a versatile verb used in both professional and personal contexts.
In a professional setting, you might say, 'She devotes her work hours to research.' In a personal setting, you could say, 'He devotes his weekends to his garden.' It is a standard, neutral-to-formal word that fits well in almost any conversation where you are discussing effort and priorities.
While 'devote' itself isn't always part of a specific idiom, it is closely linked to phrases like 'give your all', which means to put maximum effort into something. Another related idea is 'to be wedded to' an idea, meaning you are devoted to it.
1. Devote one's life to: To spend one's entire existence on a cause. 2. Devote attention to: To focus carefully on a detail. 3. Devote energy to: To work hard on a task. 4. Devote resources to: To provide money or tools for a project. 5. Devote time to: To spend hours on something.
The verb devote follows a regular pattern: devotes (third person), devoted (past), and devoting (present participle). It is almost always followed by the preposition to.
Pronunciation is /dɪˈvoʊt/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with promote, remote, quote, note, and boat. Remember to emphasize the 'vote' part of the word to sound natural!
Fun Fact
It originally involved religious sacrifice.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'dee-vote'.
Sounds like 'dee-vote' with a long O.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the first syllable
- Putting stress on the first syllable
- Dropping the T at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to understand in context.
Easy to use correctly.
Easy to pronounce.
Clear sound.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
高级
Grammar to Know
Gerunds after prepositions
Devote to reading.
Transitive verbs
He devotes time.
Reflexive pronouns
He devoted himself.
Examples by Level
I devote time to reading.
I give time to read.
Verb + noun
She devotes her day to study.
She gives her day to study.
Verb + object + to
They devote energy to sports.
They use energy for sports.
Verb + noun + to
He devotes his life to art.
He gives his life to art.
Verb + noun + to
I devote my weekends to family.
I give weekends to family.
Verb + noun + to
We devote hours to practice.
We give hours to practice.
Verb + noun + to
You should devote time to rest.
You should give time to rest.
Modal verb should
She devotes love to her pet.
She gives love to her pet.
Verb + noun + to
I devote my evenings to learning English.
The team devotes time to planning.
He devotes his energy to his job.
She devotes her skills to the project.
They devote money to charity.
We devote our attention to the teacher.
I devote my focus to the task.
He devotes his talent to music.
The CEO decided to devote more resources to marketing.
She has devoted her career to helping the environment.
We must devote enough time to prepare for the exam.
He is devoted to his daily exercise routine.
The book devotes several pages to the history of the war.
They have devoted themselves to the success of the startup.
I have devoted my life to scientific research.
She devotes her spare time to volunteering.
The government is devoted to improving public infrastructure.
He is entirely devoted to his craft as a sculptor.
The professor devoted the lecture to climate change.
She is a devoted follower of the new fashion trend.
They have devoted their lives to the pursuit of justice.
The company is devoted to sustainable practices.
I am devoted to my morning meditation.
The article is devoted to the analysis of global markets.
The artist devoted her later years to abstract painting.
He is a devoted advocate for human rights worldwide.
The charity is devoted to the eradication of poverty.
She devoted her intellectual energy to solving the crisis.
The museum is devoted to the preservation of local history.
They have devoted significant effort to the merger.
The institution is devoted to academic excellence.
He is a devoted student of philosophy.
The saint devoted his existence to the service of the poor.
The entire manifesto is devoted to the cause of liberty.
She is a devoted practitioner of the ancient arts.
The monument is devoted to the memory of the fallen.
He has devoted his soul to the mastery of the violin.
The film is devoted to the nuances of human emotion.
The architect is devoted to sustainable design principles.
The organization is devoted to the advancement of science.
常见搭配
Idioms & Expressions
"give your all"
To devote maximum effort.
You need to give your all to win.
casual"put heart and soul into"
To be deeply devoted to a task.
She put her heart and soul into the painting.
neutral"live and breathe"
To be completely devoted to something.
He lives and breathes basketball.
casual"be wedded to"
To be firmly committed to an idea.
She is wedded to her old ways.
formal"go the extra mile"
To devote more effort than expected.
He went the extra mile to help.
neutral"keep your nose to the grindstone"
To stay devoted to hard work.
Keep your nose to the grindstone and you will succeed.
casualEasily Confused
They mean almost the same thing.
Dedicate is slightly more ceremonial.
I dedicate this song to you.
Both imply effort.
Commit can be negative (commit a crime).
He committed to the task.
Both involve distribution.
Allocate is specifically for money/resources.
Allocate funds.
Both involve focus.
Assign is about tasks given by others.
Assign a task.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + devote + object + to + noun
I devote time to study.
Subject + devote + object + to + gerund
He devotes time to reading.
Subject + be + devoted + to + noun
She is devoted to her family.
Subject + devote + reflexive + to + noun
They devoted themselves to the cause.
Subject + devote + resources + to + noun
We devote resources to the project.
词族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
相关
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
常见错误
After 'to', you need a noun or gerund, not a base verb.
The correct preposition is always 'to'.
Wrong preposition usage.
Always use 'to' with devote.
Wrong preposition choice.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a ballot box where you vote for your favorite hobby.
When Native Speakers Use It
Used in speeches and professional contexts.
Cultural Insight
Often used to describe 'devoted' parents.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember: Devote + to + -ing.
Say It Right
Stressing the second syllable is key.
Don't Make This Mistake
Never use 'for' after devote.
Did You Know?
It comes from ancient vows.
Study Smart
Use it in your own sentences daily.
Rhyme Time
Rhymes with note.
Verb Patterns
It is a transitive verb.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
De-VOTE: You cast your VOTE for something you are devoted to.
Visual Association
A person placing a ballot in a box, representing their commitment.
Word Web
挑战
Write three things you are devoted to this week.
词源
Latin
Original meaning: To vow or promise.
文化背景
None, generally a positive word.
Used often in eulogies or professional appraisals.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- devote time to projects
- devote energy to tasks
- devote resources
at school
- devote time to study
- devote effort to learning
- devote attention to lessons
in relationships
- devoted to each other
- devote time to family
- devote love
in hobbies
- devote weekends to art
- devote spare time to music
- devote energy to sports
Conversation Starters
"What do you devote most of your time to?"
"Is there a cause you are devoted to?"
"How do you devote your energy to your hobbies?"
"Why is it important to devote time to family?"
"What would you devote your life to if you could?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a person you are devoted to.
What hobby would you like to devote more time to?
Describe a project you devoted a lot of effort to.
Why should we devote time to helping others?
常见问题
8 个问题Yes, they are synonyms.
No, always use 'to'.
Yes.
Devotion.
When talking about focus and effort.
It is neutral.
Rarely.
Yes, e.g., 'devote space to'.
自我测试
I ___ my time to reading.
Base verb required.
Which means to give time?
Definition match.
Devote is usually followed by 'to'.
Correct preposition usage.
Word
意思
Synonym matching.
Correct structure.
She is ___ to her job.
Adjective form needed.
What is the noun form?
Noun identification.
Devote implies lack of care.
It implies high care.
Word
意思
Family word matching.
Complex sentence order.
得分： /10
Summary
To devote is to give your heart, time, and focus to something that truly matters to you.
- Devote means to give time or energy.
- Always use 'to' after devote.
- It is a positive word for commitment.
- Commonly used in both work and personal life.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a ballot box where you vote for your favorite hobby.
When Native Speakers Use It
Used in speeches and professional contexts.
Cultural Insight
Often used to describe 'devoted' parents.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember: Devote + to + -ing.
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