Devote vs Sacrifice

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

Devote

Top 2,000 (common) B2 verb

Sacrifice

Top 2,000 (common) C1 noun

	Devote	Sacrifice
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈvəʊt/","/dɪˈvəʊts/","/dɪˈvəʊtɪd/","/dɪˈvəʊtɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈvəʊt/","/dɪˈvəʊts/","/dɪˈvəʊtɪd/","/dɪˈvəʊtɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsækrɪfaɪs/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsækrɪfaɪs/"]/
Meaning	To give time or effort to something.	to give up something for a purpose or someone else's benefit
Example	She plans to devote her summer to volunteering.	The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	C1
Part of speech	verb	noun
Collocations	devote time, devote energy, devote resources, devote attention, devote oneself	big, considerable, enormous, be, make, involve, animal, human, pagan, perform, offer (something as), sacrifice to
Antonyms	neglect, ignore, disregard	gain, keep, retain
Common mistakes	'Devote' is often confused with 'devotee', which means a fan or follower., Some learners forget to use an object, saying 'devote to' without specifying what., Misusing 'devote' in casual speech where 'spend' or 'use' would fit better.	Confused with 'sacrifice' as a noun vs. verb, Using 'sacrifice' without an object (incorrect usage), Mixing up with similar words like 'offer' or 'give' inappropriately
Usage notes	Use 'devote' for serious commitments, like time to a cause. Avoid informal settings.	Used in contexts where someone gives up something important to achieve a greater goal. Generally neutral, but can be formal when discussing serious topics. Avoid informal contexts like casual conversations.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him...

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

To sacrifice one or to lose them both.

That's the sacrifice he's making.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him...

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

To sacrifice one or to lose them both.

Sacrifice

Frequently asked questions: Devote vs Sacrifice

What's the difference between Devote and Sacrifice?

Devote: To give time or effort to something. Sacrifice: to give up something for a purpose or someone else's benefit

Which is more advanced: Devote and Sacrifice?

Sacrifice is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Devote and Sacrifice the same CEFR level?

Devote: B2, Sacrifice: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Devote and Sacrifice?

Devote: verb, Sacrifice: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Devote: She plans to devote her summer to volunteering. Sacrifice: The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality.

Can I use Devote and Sacrifice interchangeably?

Not always. Devote and Sacrifice 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.