How to pronounce dedicate
Say it like DED-uh-kayt. Dedicate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dedicate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DED
- uh
- kayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dedicate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- kaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of dedicate
American and British speakers say dedicate in essentially the same way: /ˈdɛdəˌkeɪt/ in the US and /ˈdɛdɪkeɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: DED-ih-kayt.
What does dedicate mean?
- 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”
- open to public use, as of a highway, park, or building“The Beauty Queen spends her time dedicating parks and nursing homes”
- inscribe or address by way of compliment“She dedicated her book to her parents”
Where does dedicate come from?
From Middle English dedicaten (“to dedicate”), from dedicat(e) (“dedicated”, also used as the past participle of dedicaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Latin dēdicātus, the perfect passive participle of dēdicō (“to dedicate, proclaim”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying dedicate
How do you pronounce dedicate?
Say DED-uh-kayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛdəˌkeɪt/. In British English it is /ˈdɛdɪkeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dedicate?
Dedicate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DED). Broken into parts: DED · uh · kayt.
Do Americans and Brits say dedicate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɛdəˌkeɪt/ and the British form is /ˈdɛdɪkeɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.