devote time to

Meaning

This phrase means to spend a significant amount of your time, effort, or energy on a specific activity, person, or cause. It implies a sense of commitment, dedication, or priority. It is commonly followed by a noun or a gerund (verb-ing).

Examples

• She decided to devote time to learning how to play the piano.

  She decided to devote time to learning how to play the piano.

• If you want to pass the exam, you need to devote more time to studying.

  If you want to pass the exam, you need to devote more time to studying.

• He struggles to devote time to his family because of his demanding job.

  He struggles to devote time to his family because of his demanding job.

• The company encourages employees to devote time to charity work.

  The company encourages employees to devote time to charity work.

• I try to devote some time to reading every single evening before bed.

  I try to devote some time to reading every single evening before bed.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He devotes time to study Spanish.

  ✓ He devotes time to studying Spanish.

  The preposition 'to' in this phrase must be followed by a gerund (verb-ing) or a noun, not an infinitive verb.

• ✗ She devotes her time on her hobbies.

  ✓ She devotes her time to her hobbies.

  The correct preposition to use with 'devote' is 'to', not 'on'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After retiring, he wanted to ___ volunteering at the local animal shelter.

  💡 Dedicate hours to a cause.

  Show answer

  devote time to

• It's hard to ___ exercise when you work a twelve-hour shift.

  💡 Find and commit hours for working out.

  Show answer

  devote time to