pledge

[ plej ]

/ plɛdʒ /

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See synonyms for: pledge / pledged on Thesaurus.com

noun

a solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something: a pledge of aid; a pledge not to wage war.

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.

the state of being given or held as security: to put a thing in pledge.

Law.

the act of delivering goods, property, etc., to another for security.
the resulting legal relationship.

something given or regarded as a security.

a person accepted for membership in a club, fraternity, or sorority, but not yet formally approved.

an assurance of support or goodwill conveyed by drinking a person's health; a toast.

Obsolete.

a hostage.
a person who becomes bail or surety for another.

verb (used with object), pledged, pledg·ing.

to bind by or as if by a pledge: to pledge hearers to secrecy.

to promise solemnly: to pledge one's support.

to give or deposit as a pledge; pawn.

to stake, as one's honor.

to secure by a pledge; give a pledge for.

to accept as a pledge for club, fraternity, or sorority membership.

to drink a health or toast to.

verb (used without object), pledged, pledg·ing.

to make or give a pledge: to pledge for someone.

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

OTHER WORDS FOR pledge

2 warranty, surety, guaranty.

See synonyms for pledge on Thesaurus.com

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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.

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Idioms about pledge

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

Origin of pledge

1275–1325; Middle English plege<Anglo-French <early Medieval Latin plevium,plebium, derivative of plebīre to pledge <Germanic; compare Old English plēon to risk, German pflegen to look after. See plight²

OTHER WORDS FROM pledge

pledge·a·ble, adjectivepledger, nounpledgeless, adjectivein·ter·pledge, verb (used with object), in·ter·pledged, in·ter·pledg·ing.

pre·pledge, verb (used with object), pre·pledged, pre·pledg·ing; nounquasi-pledge, verb, qua·si-pledged, qua·si-pledg·ing.re·pledge, verb (used with object), re·pledged, re·pledg·ing, nounun·pledged, adjective

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

How to use pledge in a sentence

These included a pledge to force ANC members who face criminal charges to step aside, an obligation for all officeholders to declare their financial interests, and new limitations on ANC leaders and their families doing business with the state.
The Corruption Battle Shaping South Africa’s Future|Charu Kasturi|November 9, 2020|Ozy
These electors who break that pledge are called faithless electors.
Faithless electors could decide the tight 2020 election|Lance Lambert|November 4, 2020|Fortune
The stock has been bolstered by management’s pledge to pay a $75 billion dividend annually for five years after the completion of last December’s initial public offering.
Saudi Aramco is still promising a dividend—even though it hasn’t got the cash|kdunn6|November 3, 2020|Fortune
Electors in some states are required to vote for the candidate who wins their state’s popular vote or to sign a pledge saying they will do so.
The Electoral College: Does voting really matter?|Truthbetold|October 30, 2020|TruthBeTold.news

The gathering has now been rescheduled for next year, effectively giving nations more time to update the pledges they made five years ago and promised to increase over time.
The U.S. will leave the Paris climate accord on Nov. 4. But voters will decide for how long.|Steven Mufson, Brady Dennis|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
Frey, the Summer, god of the fruitful year, the pledger of his sword.
The Heroes of Asgard|Annie Keary

British Dictionary definitions for pledge

pledge

/ (plɛdʒ) /

noun

a formal or solemn promise or agreement, esp to do or refrain from doing something

collateral for the payment of a debt or the performance of an obligation
the condition of being collateral (esp in the phrase in pledge)

a sign, token, or indicationthe gift is a pledge of their sincerity

an assurance of support or goodwill, conveyed by drinking to a person, cause, etc; toastwe drank a pledge to their success

a person who binds himself, as by becoming bail or surety for another

sign the pledge or take the pledge to make a vow to abstain from alcoholic drink

verb

to promise formally or solemnlyhe pledged allegiance

(tr) to bind or secure by or as if by a pledgethey were pledged to secrecy

to give, deposit, or offer (one's word, freedom, property, etc) as a guarantee, as for the repayment of a loan

to drink a toast to (a person, cause, etc)

Derived forms of pledge

pledgable, adjective

Word Origin for pledge

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

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

pledge

OTHER WORDS FOR pledge

Idioms about pledge

Origin of pledge

OTHER WORDS FROM pledge

Words related to pledge

How to use pledge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pledge

Derived forms of pledge

Word Origin for pledge