promising

[ prom-uh-sing ]

/ ˈprɒm ə sɪŋ /

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adjective

giving favorable promise; likely to turn out well: a promising young man; a promising situation.

Nearby words

promiscuity, promiscuous, promise, promised land, promisee, promising, promisingly, promisor, promissory, promissory note, promnesia

Origin of promising

First recorded in 1505–15; promise + -ing²

SYNONYMS FOR promising

favorable, reassuring, encouraging.

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Related formsprom·is·ing·ly, adverbprom·is·ing·ness, noun

Definition for promising (2 of 2)

promise

[ prom-is ]

/ ˈprɒm ɪs /

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.

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

SYNONYMS FOR promise

2 word, pledge.

6 pledge, covenant, agree.

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Related forms

prom·is·a·ble, adjectiveprom·ise·ful, adjectiveprom·is·er, nounout·prom·ise, 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.qua·si-prom·ised, 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for promising

He has struck a promising tone these last few days with his rhetoric about trying to “see each other.”
Memo to Cops: Criticisms Aren’t Attacks|Michael Tomasky|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I made the mistake of promising one group of guys they could ask me anything if they answered my questions.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots|Emily Shire|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Atlanta, Georgia, USA Atlanta is quickly becoming one of the most promising LGBT HQs on the globe.
The Ultimate LGBT Travel Bucket List||December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Others are here to invest in artists with promising reputations, and thus the possibility of future ROI.
Sneer and Clothing in Miami: Inside The $3 Billion Woodstock of Contemporary Art|Jay Michaelson|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

What does that promising growth mean for the renegade brewers at Casa Bruja?
House of the Witch: The Renegade Craft Brewers of Panama|Jeff Campagna|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They found a hiding-place for the wounded earl, and Wallace went away, promising to be near at hand.
The World's Greatest Books, Vol VII|Various
To be as good a boy as one can, is promising a great deal, but not too much if one is in tremendous earnest, as I think you are.
The Pansy Magazine, August 1886|Various
I have long considered as the greatest happiness of my life, the having so promising a pupil as your lordship.
Four Early Pamphlets|William Godwin
And she gave him money, promising him more as he might need it, within reason.
Clark's Field|Robert Herrick
This absurd affair would ruin his reputation of a sensible, well-behaved, promising young officer.
A Set of Six|Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for promising (1 of 2)

promising

/ (ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ) /

adjective

showing promise of favourable development or future success

Derived Formspromisingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for promising (2 of 2)

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 Formspromiser, 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

Word Origin and History for promising (1 of 3)

promising

adj.

"showing signs of future excellence," c.1600, present participle adjective from promise (v.). Related: Promisingly.

Word Origin and History for promising (1 of 3)

promise

c.1400, "a pledge, vow," from Old French promesse "promise, guarantee, assurance" (13c.) and directly from Latin promissum "a promise," noun use of neuter past participle of promittere "send forth; let go; foretell; assure beforehand, promise," from pro- "before" (see pro-) + mittere "to put, send" (see mission). The ground sense is "declaration made about the future, about some act to be done or not done."

Word Origin and History for promising (2 of 3)

promise

c.1400, from promise (n.). Related: Promised; promising. Promised land (1530s) is a reference to the land of Canaan promised to Abraham and his progeny (Hebrew xi:9, etc.; Greek ten ges tes epangelias).

Idioms and Phrases with promising

promise

see lick and a promise.

promising

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of promising

Definition for promising (2 of 2)

promise

noun

verb (used with object), prom·ised, prom·is·ing.

verb (used without object), prom·ised, prom·is·ing.

Origin of promise

Examples from the Web for promising

British Dictionary definitions for promising (1 of 2)

promising

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for promising (2 of 2)

promise

verb

noun

Word Origin for promise

Word Origin and History for promising (1 of 3)

promising

Word Origin and History for promising (1 of 3)

promise

Word Origin and History for promising (2 of 3)

promise

Idioms and Phrases with promising

promise

promising

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Origin of promising

Definition for.css-ylq2vz{color:#1a1a1a;} promising (2 of 2)

promise

noun

verb (used without object), prom·ised, prom·is·ing.

Origin of promise

Examples from the Web for promising

British Dictionary definitions for promising (1 of 2)

promising

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for promising (2 of 2)

promise

verb

noun

Word Origin for promise

Word Origin and History for promising (1 of 3)

promising

Word Origin and History for promising (1 of 3)

promise

Word Origin and History for promising (2 of 3)

promise

Idioms and Phrases with promising

promise

adjective

Definition for promising (2 of 2)