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.
The live communion of these four musicians especially befits Big Ears, a festival devoted to unconventional music and famous for its promise of spontaneity around each corner.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026
“The 2027 Budget upholds this promise and would ensure that the United States continues to maintain the world’s most powerful and capable military.”
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
For AI to be trusted to truly live up to its promise, use cases will need to be proved.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
When it comes to their careers, many people are searching for the promise of some stability.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
‘And there are still things I want to protect you from if I can. Look, I’ll tell you something. But you must promise not to say a word. To anyone.’
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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.
