promise

[ prom-is ]

/ ˈprɒm ɪs /

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See synonyms for: promise / promised / promises / promising on Thesaurus.com

noun

a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc., by one: unkept political promises.

an express assurance on which expectation is to be based: promises that an enemy will not win.

something that has the effect of an express assurance; indication of what may be expected.

indication of future excellence or achievement: a writer who shows promise.

something that is promised.

verb (used with object), prom·ised, prom·is·ing.

to engage or undertake by promise (usually used with an infinitive or a clause as object): She promised to go tomorrow.

to make a promise of (some specified act, gift, etc.): to promise help.

to make a promise of something to (a specified person): Promise me that you will come.

to afford ground for expecting: The sky promised a storm.

to engage to join in marriage.

to assure (used in emphatic declarations): I won't go there again, I promise you that!

verb (used without object), prom·ised, prom·is·ing.

to afford ground for expectation (often followed by well or fair): His forthcoming novel promises well.

to make a promise.

OTHER WORDS FOR promise

2 word, pledge.

6 pledge, covenant, agree.

See synonyms for promise on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of promise

1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English promis(se) <Medieval Latin prōmissa, for Latin prōmissum, noun use of neuter past participle of prōmittere to promise, literally, to send forth, equivalent to prō-pro-¹ + mittere to send; (v.) late Middle English promisen, derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM promise

prom·is·a·ble, adjectiveprom·ise·ful, adjectiveprom·is·er, nounoutpromise, verb (used with object), out·prom·ised, out·prom·is·ing.

o·ver·prom·ise, verb (used with object), o·ver·prom·ised, o·ver·prom·is·ing.pre·prom·ise, noun, verb (used with object), pre·prom·ised, pre·prom·is·ing.quasi-promised, adjectivere·prom·ise, verb, re·prom·ised, re·prom·is·ing.un·prom·ised, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use promise in a sentence

They are always suspended over a precipice, dangling by a slender thread that shows every sign of snapping.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech|Nick Gillespie|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And now, similarly, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee: "Bend over and take it like a prisoner!"
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps on his own nowadays, Epstein is trying his best to webmaster over a dozen URLs.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But yes, I pictured a James Bond-type just sauntering over to her.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The debate over who really pulled off the Sony hack, then, could continue indefinitely.
Was Sony Hit With a Second Hack?|Shane Harris|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is most peculiar, and when he plays that way, the most bewitching little expression comes over his face.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
All over the world the just claims of organized labor are intermingled with the underground conspiracy of social revolution.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
After we had passed over this desert, we found several garisons to defend the caravans from the violence of the Tartars.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
After relievedly giving the pistol to the nearest soldier, he stumbled quickly over to Brion and took his hand.
Sense of Obligation|Henry Maxwell Dempsey (AKA Harry Harrison)
Solely over one man therein thou hast quite absolute control.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou

British Dictionary definitions for promise

promise

/ (ˈprɒmɪs) /

verb

(often foll by to; when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to give an assurance of (something to someone); undertake (to do something) in the futureI promise that I will come

(tr) to undertake to give (something to someone)he promised me a car for my birthday

(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

(usually passive) to engage to be married; betrothI'm promised to Bill

(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

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

indication of forthcoming excellence or goodnessa writer showing considerable promise

the thing of which an assurance is given

Derived forms of promise

promiser, noun

Word Origin for promise

C14: from Latin prōmissum a promise, from prōmittere to send forth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with promise

promise

see lick and a promise.

promise

OTHER WORDS FOR promise

Origin of promise

OTHER WORDS FROM promise

Words related to promise

How to use promise in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for promise

Derived forms of promise

Word Origin for promise

Other Idioms and Phrases with promise