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

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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. 2022

How to use promise in a sentence

A product that could theoretically be reused is just a promise — one that is usually unfulfilled.
Trying to shop sustainably? Here’s what you need to consider.|Sarah Kaplan|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
George’s biography breezes through Glenn’s busy, ever-changing career with promises to examine his life in an inspirational way, seeing him as a memorial to a more honest time before the Watergate era of national cynicism.
Another look at John Glenn through a heroic lens|Francis French|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The promise of antigen tests emerged like a miracle this summer.
Rapid Testing Is Less Accurate Than the Government Wants to Admit|by Lisa Song|November 16, 2020|ProPublica
They’ve had at least some success with about 80 percent of their patients, and early clinical studies have shown promise.
Please Get Your Noise Out of My Ears (Ep. 439)|Stephen J. Dubner|November 12, 2020|Freakonomics

The promise that some of these people make about “defunding” the police is a false promise.
The Trailer: The 10 crucial counties, revisited|David Weigel|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
In a neat line, his agent, beginning a bidding war, promised: “Michiko Kakutani will flip for this.”
What On Earth Is ‘The Affair’ About? Season One’s Baffling Finale|Tim Teeman|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The charismatic bearded revolucionario dressed in a dark olive uniform promised to restore order and hold elections.
Cuba Is A Kleptocracy, Not Communist|Romina Ruiz-Goiriena|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Today, the hackers calling themselves Guardians of Peace promised further attacks against Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Kim Jong Un’s Kid Gloves Are Now Off|Gordon G. Chang|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Charter schools, rejecting the tenet of promotion through seniority, promised to do better.
Your Local School Doesn’t Have to Suck|Michael S. Roth|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“We have already promised a Christmas gift to you,” the message read.
Sony Hackers Issue 9/11 Warning|William Boot|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Danger threatened from two of them: Mr Bellamy had not afforded the support which he had promised.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
I turned away from the bank and raced up a long slope to a saw-backed ridge that promised largely of unobstructed view.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
"I won't speak while you're remembering," Rosemary promised, leaning her head confidingly against his shoulder.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
All happened as the young girl had promised, and in a few moments they were in the open air and in freedom.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
He had taken an immediate fancy to Isabel and promised to show her the lower rooms as soon as she tired of dancing.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton

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