Agreement vs That's a pretty big commitment

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Agreement

Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun

That's a pretty big commitment

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Agreement
 AgreementThat's a pretty big commitment
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈɡriːmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈɡriːmənt/"]/🇬🇧 //ðæts ə ˈprɪti bɪg kəˈmɪtmənt//🇺🇸 //ðæts ə ˈprɪti bɪg kəˈmɪtmənt//
MeaningA decision or understanding made by two or more people.It's a significant promise or responsibility.
ExampleThe two countries reached an agreement to trade resources.Buying a house really is a pretty big commitment.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsdraft, formal, signed, negotiate, work out, conclude, in an/​the agreement, under an/​the agreement, agreement between, breach of agreement, the terms of the agreement, absolute, complete, full, arrive at, come to, reach, by agreement, in agreement, in agreement with, absolute, complete, full, arrive at, come to, reach, by agreement, in agreement, in agreement withmake a commitment, big commitment, long-term commitment, serious commitment, financial commitment
Antonymsdisagreement, conflict, dissonance-
Common mistakesConfused with 'agreement' as a verb; 'agree' is the correct form., Wrongly uses plural form 'agreements' in contexts that require a singular., Forgets to include 'on' after 'agreement' when talking about specific topics.Using 'commitment' incorrectly as a verb instead of a noun., Confusing 'commitment' with 'agreement' - a commitment is more personal., Overusing 'pretty' in formal speech.
Usage notesUsed when talking about decisions made together. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in very informal settings where simpler words might suffice.Use in contexts discussing promises or responsibilities, often when emphasizing importance. It’s suitable for casual conversations, but can be used in formal contexts if necessary.

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Agreement
That's a pretty big commitment

Frequently asked questions: Agreement vs That's a pretty big commitment

What's the difference between Agreement and That's a pretty big commitment?

Agreement: A decision or understanding made by two or more people. That's a pretty big commitment: It's a significant promise or responsibility.

Which is more common: Agreement and That's a pretty big commitment?

Agreement is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Agreement: The two countries reached an agreement to trade resources. That's a pretty big commitment: Buying a house really is a pretty big commitment.

Can I use Agreement and That's a pretty big commitment interchangeably?

Not always. Agreement and That's a pretty big commitment are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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