dedicar
verbCEFR B2
What does “dedicar” mean in English?
1.to dedicate, to devote
to dedicate, to devote (to allocate resources, time, or effort to something; dedicar tiempo / presupuesto a)
2.to devote oneself to
to devote oneself to (dedicarse a + noun/inf — reflexive; professional or personal vocation)
Example sentences
El proyecto dedica gran parte de su presupuesto a la formación del profesorado en zonas rurales.
The project allocates a large part of its budget to teacher training in rural areas.
El estudio dedica un capítulo entero al análisis de los efectos secundarios del tratamiento.
The study devotes an entire chapter to analysing the side effects of the treatment.
La ciudad dedica millones de euros al año a la conservación de su patrimonio histórico.
The city dedicates millions of euros a year to the preservation of its historical heritage.
How to use it
Dedicar (transitive) means 'to dedicate', 'to allocate', or 'to devote' — directing resources, time, or effort towards something. Frame: dedicar [algo] a [algo]. This is the non-reflexive form used with inanimate allocations: dedicar tiempo, dedicar presupuesto, dedicar esfuerzo. Contrast with dedicarse a (reflexive), which is for personal vocations.
Common mistake
Dedicate in English maps to two Spanish forms: dedicar (allocate resources/time to something) and dedicarse a (devote oneself — reflexive, for vocations). The preposition is always a. Don't say *dedicar para — it is dedicar a. Dedica tiempo a, dedicar esfuerzo a are the high-frequency B2 collocations.