German word

widmen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈvɪtmən/

Meaning

  • verbdevote oneself

Example

Er widmet sich der Forschung.

He devotes himself to research.

Illustration for widmen (devote oneself)

More examples

Ich widme meinem Sohn heute Abend mehr Zeit.

I devote more time to my son this evening.

Core concept

A person keeps turning time and effort toward one chosen pursuit, such as research.

Common phrases

  • jemandem Zeit widmen

    devote time to someone

  • sich widmen einem Hobby

    devote oneself to a hobby

  • dem Kind widmen

    devote oneself to the child

Similar words

sich beschäftigen (mit): To spend time and attention working on a particular activity or subject.
sich konzentrieren (auf): To direct attention and effort toward one specific focus.

Definition in German

etwas zur Hauptaufgabe machen und dafür fortlaufend Zeit und Mühe einsetzen

Word origin

Widmen descends from Middle High German widemen and Old High German widemōn, originally meaning to consecrate or dedicate before developing broader uses.

Usage tips

  • The reflexive form is sich einer Sache widmen, with the object in the dative, as in sich der Forschung widmen.

Other meanings

  • spendverb
  • dedicateverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Widmungdedicationnoun
  • gewidmetdedicatedadjective

Word lists with this word