promise
Americannoun
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a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc., by one.
unkept political promises.
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an express assurance on which expectation is to be based.
promises that an enemy will not win.
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something that has the effect of an express assurance; indication of what may be expected.
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indication of future excellence or achievement.
a writer who shows promise.
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something that is promised.
verb (used with object)
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to engage or undertake by promise (usually used with an infinitive or a clause as object).
She promised to go tomorrow.
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to make a promise of (some specified act, gift, etc.).
to promise help.
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to make a promise of something to (a specified person).
Promise me that you will come.
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to afford ground for expecting.
The sky promised a storm.
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to engage to join in marriage.
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to assure (used in emphatic declarations).
I won't go there again, I promise you that!
verb (used without object)
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to afford ground for expectation (often followed by well orfair ).
His forthcoming novel promises well.
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to make a promise.
verb
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to give an assurance of (something to someone); undertake (to do something) in the future
I promise that I will come
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(tr) to undertake to give (something to someone)
he promised me a car for my birthday
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(when tr, takes an infinitive) to cause one to expect that in the future one is likely (to be or do something)
she promises to be a fine soprano
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(usually passive) to engage to be married; betroth
I'm promised to Bill
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(tr) to assure (someone) of the authenticity or inevitability of something (often in the parenthetic phrase I promise you, used to emphasize a statement)
there'll be trouble, I promise you
noun
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an undertaking or assurance given by one person to another agreeing or guaranteeing to do or give something, or not to do or give something, in the future
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indication of forthcoming excellence or goodness
a writer showing considerable promise
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the thing of which an assurance is given
Other Word Forms
- outpromise verb (used with object)
- overpromise verb (used with object)
- prepromise noun
- promisable adjective
- promiseful adjective
- promiser noun
- quasi-promised adjective
- repromise verb
- unpromised adjective
Etymology
Origin of promise
First recorded in 1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English promis(se), from Medieval Latin prōmissa, from Latin prōmissum, noun use of neuter past participle of prōmittere “to promise,” literally, “to send forth,” equivalent to prō- pro- 1 + mittere “to send”; (verb) late Middle English promisen, derivative of the noun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to the researchers, the results highlight a promising strategy for promoting longevity using drugs that act on bacteria rather than human cells.
From Science Daily
Pimenta argues that agents who still feel they can do everything are either 'delusional' or making promises they can't keep.
From BBC
The attendant promised she would receive the full amount via bank transfer by the end of the day.
From Barron's
The regime acknowledged their concerns and promised to make economic concessions.
When he was 12, his appendix ruptured and he nearly died, leading him to promise to serve God as an adult.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
