promise

[ prom-is ]

/ ˈprɒm ɪs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR promise 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.

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.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR promise ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Example sentences from the Web for promise

With those words was a promise to launch the first group of passengers in the coming year.

You Were Wrong About Miley & Bitcoin: 2014’s Failed Predictions |Nina Strochlic |December 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They opened for acts like Elliott Smith, Sloan, and Promise Ring.

OK Go Is Helping Redefine the Music Video For the Internet Age |Lauren Schwartzberg |December 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Christie has a lot riding on fulfilling his promise of shepherding Atlantic City into a third boom era.

I Watched a Casino Kill Itself: The Awful Last Nights of Atlantic City’s Taj Mahal |Olivia Nuzzi |December 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In fact, November's results show parents want to continue with implementation of high standards and the results they promise.

Why Voters Love Common Core |Harold Ford Jr. |November 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Apparently, tech world is no longer enthralled by the promise that was Obama.

Earth to DNC: Dyspeptic Dad Still Votes, Too |Lloyd Green |November 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
No, no, the warders must bring their own gear with them; they get none here, I promise them.

Peveril of the Peak |Sir Walter Scott
Some are doubtful about the last lines, but the word "promise" had a jubilant musical rhythm in my head.

Juliana Horatia Ewing And Her Books |Horatia K. F. Eden
Ten of the Frenchmen only could be induced to promise their assistance.

Paddy Finn |W. H. G. Kingston
Tushin wondered anxiously whether he had kept his promise, whether he was annoying Vera in any way.

The Precipice |Ivan Goncharov
They weighed anchor at night, and following morning made you, by threats, promise to steer them to the island.

Dialstone Lane, Complete |W.W. Jacobs

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 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 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

Example sentences from the Web for promise

British Dictionary definitions for promise

verb

noun

Derived forms of promise

Word Origin for promise

Idioms and Phrases with 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

Words related to promise

Example sentences from the Web for promise

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for promise

verb

noun

Derived forms of promise

Word Origin for promise

Idioms and Phrases with promise

British Dictionary definitions for promise