devoted my time

USAGE SUMMARY

"devoted my time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that someone has dedicated their time and attention to a particular activity or task. Example: "I devoted my time to studying for my exams, and it paid off when I received excellent grades."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

No, I should have devoted my time to "finding" a husband.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ever since then, I have devoted my time, my efforts, my career to figuring out engineering solutions during times of natural disasters.

Stanford University

"At least one tries to change the system if one believes that it is unjust, and that is what I devoted my time to," he said.

The New York Times

In the 1920s he developed a serious interest in marine biology, writing to his Yale classmates in 1926: "Since 1923 I have devoted my time largely to scientific research work connected with marine life….

Yale University

From that time until a correction was published on the leader page of the Guardian on November 17 I devoted my time almost exclusively to investigating Prof Chomsky's complaint.

The Guardian

I was supposed to talk about my career, but instead I devoted my time to assuring the students that it is normal and understandable to not have any idea who they are behind their award-studded bios.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"I devote my time and energy to it," he said.

The New York Times

"What, I should give up all my work and devote my time to gathering documents?

The Economist

Perhaps one day I might even give up on novels and devote my time to painting.

The Guardian - Arts

"I'd rather devote my time to patients who do their best to prevent asthma attacks".

The New York Times

I'll be taking this week off from serious stuff and devoting my time to the Masters golf tournament.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devoted my time" when you want to emphasize the dedication and commitment you had towards a specific goal or activity. It suggests a significant investment of your time and focus.

Common error

Avoid using "devoted my time" in overly casual settings. Simpler alternatives like "spent my time" might be more appropriate for everyday conversations or informal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devoted my time" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of dedicating one's time to a specific activity or purpose. Ludwig confirms it as grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devoted my time" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a significant dedication of one's time to a particular activity. Ludwig AI validates this and provides examples from various contexts, including news, academia, and business. While versatile, it's best used in contexts where the dedication is emphasized. Consider alternatives like "spent my time" or "dedicated my time" for more general or formal uses, respectively. Remember to avoid overusing "devoted my time" in casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dedicated my time

Uses "dedicated" instead of "devoted", implying a similar commitment.

committed my time

Emphasizes a firm decision and promise to allocate time.

spent my time

A more general alternative, indicating time allocation without necessarily implying strong dedication.

invested my time

Suggests that time was used with the expectation of a return or benefit.

gave my time

Focuses on the act of giving or contributing time.

allocated my time

Implies a planned and structured distribution of time.

dedicated my energies

Focuses on dedicating effort and vitality, not just time.

used my time

A simple and neutral way to describe how time was spent.

applied myself

Highlights personal effort and focus.

applied my efforts

Emphasizes the application of effort rather than the passage of time.

FAQs

How can I use "devoted my time" in a sentence?

You can use "devoted my time" to describe dedicating significant effort to something. For example, "I devoted my time to volunteering at the local animal shelter".

What can I say instead of "devoted my time"?

You can use alternatives like "dedicated my time", "spent my time", or "invested my time" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "devoted my time" or "spent my time"?

"Devoted my time" is generally more formal and implies a greater commitment than "spent my time", which is more neutral.

When is it appropriate to use "devoted my time" versus "dedicated my time"?

Both "devoted my time" and "dedicated my time" are quite similar. "Devoted" often emphasizes a stronger sense of purpose or passion, while "dedicated" can be slightly more formal and focused on commitment.