pledge

[ plej ]

noun

1. a solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something:

   a pledge of aid;

   a pledge not to wage war.

2. something delivered as security for the payment of a debt or fulfillment of a promise, and subject to forfeiture on failure to pay or fulfill the promise.

   Synonyms: guaranty, surety, warranty

3. the state of being given or held as security:

   to put a thing in pledge.

4. Law.
   1. the act of delivering goods, property, etc., to another for security.
   2. the resulting legal relationship.
5. something given or regarded as a security.
6. a person accepted for membership in a club, fraternity, or sorority, but not yet formally approved.
7. an assurance of support or goodwill conveyed by drinking a person's health; a toast.
8. Obsolete.
   1. a hostage.
   2. a person who becomes bail or surety for another.

verb (used with object)

, pledged, pledg·ing.

1. to bind by or as if by a pledge:

   to pledge hearers to secrecy.

2. to promise solemnly:

   to pledge one's support.

3. to give or deposit as a pledge; pawn.
4. to stake, as one's honor.
5. to secure by a pledge; give a pledge for.
6. to accept as a pledge for club, fraternity, or sorority membership.
7. to drink a health or toast to.

verb (used without object)

, pledged, pledg·ing.

1. to make or give a pledge:

   to pledge for someone.

2. to drink a pledge; toast someone's health, success, etc.

pledge

/ plɛdʒ /

noun

1. a formal or solemn promise or agreement, esp to do or refrain from doing something
2. 1. collateral for the payment of a debt or the performance of an obligation
   2. the condition of being collateral (esp in the phrase in pledge )
3. a sign, token, or indication

   the gift is a pledge of their sincerity

4. an assurance of support or goodwill, conveyed by drinking to a person, cause, etc; toast

   we drank a pledge to their success

5. a person who binds himself, as by becoming bail or surety for another
6. sign the pledge or take the pledge
   to make a vow to abstain from alcoholic drink

verb

1. to promise formally or solemnly

   he pledged allegiance

2. tr to bind or secure by or as if by a pledge

   they were pledged to secrecy

3. to give, deposit, or offer (one's word, freedom, property, etc) as a guarantee, as for the repayment of a loan
4. to drink a toast to (a person, cause, etc)

Derived Forms

• ˈpledgable, adjective

Other Words From

• pledgea·ble adjective
• pledger noun
• pledgeless adjective
• inter·pledge verb (used with object) interpledged interpledging
• pre·pledge verb (used with object) prepledged prepledging noun
• quasi-pledge verb quasipledged quasipledging
• re·pledge verb (used with object) repledged repledging noun
• un·pledged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pledge¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English plege, from Anglo-French, from early Medieval Latin plebium, plevium, noun derivative of plebīre “to pledge,” from Germanic; compare Old English plēon “to risk,” German pflegen “to look after”; plight ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of pledge¹

C14: from Old French plege, from Late Latin plebium gage, security, from plebīre to pledge, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German pflegan to look after, care for

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take the pledge, to make a solemn, formal vow to abstain from intoxicating drink.

Example Sentences

On Saturday Yoon made his first appearance since the martial law declaration, pledging that he would not impose another martial law order, and apologising for the "anxiety and inconvenience" caused by his declaration.

From BBC

Trump also said he would follow through on his campaign pledge to deport undocumented immigrants, including those with family members who are US citizens.

From BBC

To Syrians, including minorities, they promised safety; to neighbours and powers like Russia, they pledged peaceful relations.

From BBC

Cars, apparel, electronics and more could see prices go up if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his pledge to impose sweeping new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump’s apparent skepticism toward some vaccine requirements — during the campaign he pledged to “not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate” — is also raising alarm bells in some corners.

From Los Angeles Times