devote to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'devote to' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean to dedicate or to put one's effort and attention to something. For example: 'He devoted his life to his family and to helping others.'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He didn't have much time to devote to looking, either.

The New York Times

How much time do you devote to art now?

The Guardian

There's a limit to how much time you want to devote to remote possibilities.

The New York Times

Many others lacked the resources and staff to devote to such a task.

The New Yorker

The more we devote to amplifying conflict, the less we listen to each other.

The New York Times - Magazine

The turnover is complicated by the limited practice time some clubs devote to special teams.

The New York Times - Sports

After all, there are only so many Thursday nights you can devote to relentless gloom-mongering.

Independent

How much effort do high-speed traders devote to analyzing the future prospects of Apple?

The New York Times

How much I choose to devote to any aspect of worker welfare is my choice.

The New York Times

The amounts taxpayers devote to it vary, as does the balance between state and private provision.

The Economist

You'll lose time you could devote to your own essays or fiction or poems.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "devote to", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being dedicated (time, resources, effort) and the specific purpose or area it's being directed towards. For example, "She decided to devote more time to her family."

Common error

Avoid using "devote for" instead of "devote to". The correct preposition to follow "devote" when indicating the purpose or recipient is "to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devote to" functions as a phrasal verb used to express the act of dedicating or allocating resources, time, or effort towards a specific purpose or activity. It emphasizes the commitment and focus directed towards something, as validated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "devote to" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrasal verb that indicates the dedication of resources, time, or effort towards a specific goal or purpose. According to Ludwig AI, it is employed across a wide range of contexts, including news, scientific literature, and general writing, demonstrating its versatility and broad applicability. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to specify what is being devoted and the exact purpose. Remember to use the preposition "to" rather than "for" after "devote". Overall, this expression is valuable for clearly communicating commitment and allocation, as affirmed by the multitude of examples available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dedicate oneself to

Emphasizes a personal commitment and focus, implying a significant investment of time and energy.

dedicate to

Similar to "devote to", but emphasizes a formal or ceremonial allocation of something.

commit to

Highlights the making of a promise or firm decision to allocate resources or effort.

allocate to

Focuses on the distribution or assignment of resources, such as time or money.

give over to

Suggests surrendering or dedicating something, implying a complete dedication.

consign to

Implies handing something over for a specific purpose, often with a sense of permanence.

apply oneself to

Highlights the act of directing one's effort and attention purposefully.

invest in

Focuses on dedicating resources with the expectation of future benefits or returns.

plow into

An informal way of saying to invest heavily in something with enthusiasm.

assign to

Focuses on the formal task or duty to allocate resources.

FAQs

How to use "devote to" in a sentence?

Use "devote to" to indicate dedicating time, resources, or effort towards a specific purpose. For example, "He wants to "dedicate himself to" environmental conservation" or "She will "commit to" spending more time with her children".

What can I say instead of "devote to"?

You can use alternatives like "dedicate to", ""commit to"", or "allocate to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "devote for" instead of "devote to"?

No, it is incorrect. The correct preposition to use after "devote" when indicating the purpose or recipient is "to", not "for". "Devote to" is the correct usage.

What's the difference between "devote to" and "dedicate to"?

While "devote to" and "dedicate to" are very similar, "dedicate to" often implies a more formal or ceremonial commitment compared to the more general "devote to".