promise

[prom-is]

noun

1. a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc., by one.

   unkept political promises.

2. an express assurance on which expectation is to be based.

   promises that an enemy will not win.

   Synonyms: pledge, word

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

4. indication of future excellence or achievement.

   a writer who shows promise.

5. something that is promised.

verb (used with object)

promised, promising 

1. to engage or undertake by promise (usually used with an infinitive or a clause as object).

   She promised to go tomorrow.

   Synonyms: agree, covenant, pledge

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

   to promise help.

3. to make a promise of something to (a specified person).

   Promise me that you will come.

4. to afford ground for expecting.

   The sky promised a storm.

5. to engage to join in marriage.

6. to assure (used in emphatic declarations).

   I won't go there again, I promise you that!

verb (used without object)

promised, promising 

1. to afford ground for expectation (often followed by well orfair ).

   His forthcoming novel promises well.

2. to make a promise.

promise

/ ˈprɒmɪs /

verb

1. to give an assurance of (something to someone); undertake (to do something) in the future

   I promise that I will come

2. (tr) to undertake to give (something to someone)

   he promised me a car for my birthday

3. (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

4. (usually passive) to engage to be married; betroth

   I'm promised to Bill

5. (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

1. 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

2. indication of forthcoming excellence or goodness

   a writer showing considerable promise

3. the thing of which an assurance is given

Other Word Forms

• promisable adjective
• promiseful adjective
• promiser noun
• outpromise verb (used with object)
• overpromise verb (used with object)
• prepromise noun
• quasi-promised adjective
• repromise verb
• unpromised adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of promise¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of promise¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see lick and a promise.

Example Sentences

The Scottish government has long called for this policy to be ended, and had promised to "mitigate" it with a new payment for affected families from next March.

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Yet the stock’s performance shows no trace of this promise.

Read more on Barron's

Such capabilities may be especially promising for technologies related to sustainable hydrogen production.

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In its election manifesto last year, Labour promised to develop "an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty" and a taskforce was launched in July 2024 after the party won power.

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In response to the original US document's rather vague promise to offer "reliable security guarantees", European leaders spoke of a US guarantee that "mirrors Article 5", a reference to Nato's principle of collective defence.

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Related Words

• agreement 
• assurance 
• commitment 
• guarantee 
• obligation 
• pact 
• pledge 
• vow 
• word