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Synonyms

promising

American  
[prom-uh-sing] / ˈprɒm ə sɪŋ /

adjective

  1. giving favorable promise; likely to turn out well.

    a promising young man; a promising situation.
    Synonyms:
    favorable
promising British  
/ ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ /

adjective

  1. showing promise of favourable development or future success

"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 Word Forms

  • promisingly adverb
  • promisingness noun

Etymology

Origin of promising

First recorded in 1505–15; promise + -ing 2

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.

Greenwood was seen as one of United's most promising young players when, at the age of 20, he was arrested in January 2022.

From BBC

His first year was promising: Marseille finished as runners-up and returned to the Champions League.

From BBC

By early 2020, Exxon scientists were concerned about the viability of the program because they were struggling to replicate promising lab results in outdoor ponds where algae was exposed to nature.

From The Wall Street Journal

Of course, I understand that he needs my help, even though I don’t remember promising to help the way he seems to think I did.

From Literature

Gary Woodland was once among the most promising golfers in the world.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.