pledge

American  

[plej] / plɛdʒ /

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, pledging

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, pledging

1. to make or give a pledge.

   to pledge for someone.

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

idioms

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

pledge British  

/ 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. 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)

Other Word Forms

• interpledge verb (used with object)
• pledgable adjective
• pledgeable adjective
• pledgeless adjective
• pledger noun
• prepledge verb (used with object)
• quasi-pledge verb
• repledge verb (used with object)
• unpledged adjective

Etymology

Origin of pledge

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

Example Sentences

Buffett said in 2024 that his donations to the foundation would end after his death—reversing his original pledge at the time he began making the donations in 2006.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

That includes a national child-care subsidy and a pledge that women will face no out-of-pocket costs during pregnancy, with medical expenses, including fertility treatments, folded into the national insurance system.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The mortgage company Better Home & Finance and the crypto exchange Coinbase Global unveiled a product that lets home buyers pledge crypto when getting a Fannie-backed mortgage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

One thing which underlines the power of the manifesto pledge is that an extra line in this section promised to "allow teachers more time out of the classroom to prepare lessons and improve their skills".

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

“This pledge does represent a sacrifice. I am already committed to a fifty-dollar Liberty Bond.”

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Related Words

• agreement
• assurance
• guarantee
• oath
• promise
• vow
• word