What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
commit
Example
He committed a crime and was arrested by the police. [commit: verb]
Example
I commit to finishing this project by the end of the week. [commit: verb]
perpetrate
Example
The suspect was found guilty of perpetrating the robbery. [perpetrate: verb]
Example
He perpetrated a fraud scheme that affected many innocent people. [perpetrated: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Commit is more commonly used than perpetrate in everyday language. Commit is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while perpetrate is less common and primarily used in legal or formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between commit and perpetrate?
While commit can be used in both formal and informal contexts, perpetrate is more commonly used in formal or legal settings due to its specific connotation and usage.