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.

OTHER WORDS FROM promise

prom·is·a·ble, adjective prom·ise·ful, adjective prom·is·er, noun out·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, adjective re·prom·ise, verb, re·prom·ised, re·prom·is·ing. un·prom·ised, adjective

Words nearby promise

prominent, prominent heel, prominent moth, promiscuity, promiscuous, promise, promised land, promisee, promising, promisor, promissory

British Dictionary definitions for over-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 future I 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; betroth I'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 goodness a 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

Idioms and Phrases with over-promise

promise

see lick and a promise.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

promise

noun

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

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

Origin of promise

SYNONYMS FOR promise

OTHER WORDS FROM promise

Words nearby promise

British Dictionary definitions for over-promise

verb

noun

Derived forms of promise

Word Origin for promise

Idioms and Phrases with over-promise

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

promise

noun

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

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

Origin of promise

SYNONYMS FOR promise

OTHER WORDS FROM promise

Words nearby promise

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verb

noun

Derived forms of promise

Word Origin for promise

Idioms and Phrases with over-promise

British Dictionary definitions for over-promise