pledge

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a bailment of a chattel as security for a debt or other obligation without involving transfer of title
b
: the chattel so delivered
c
: the contract incidental to such a bailment
2
a
: the state of being held as a security or guaranty
b
: something given as security for the performance of an act
3
: a token, sign, or earnest of something else
4
: a gage of battle
5
6
a
: a binding promise or agreement to do or forbear
b(1)
: a promise to join a fraternity, sorority, or secret society
(2)
: a person who has so promised

pledge

2 of 2

verb

pledged; pledging

transitive verb

1
: to make a pledge of
especially : pawn
2
: to drink to the health of
3
: to bind by a pledge
4
: to promise the performance of by a pledge
pledger noun
or pledgor
ˈple-jər How to pronounce pledge (audio)
ple-ˈjȯr

Examples of pledge in a Sentence

Noun He has promised to fulfill a campaign pledge to cut taxes. To make a pledge or donation, please call the charity's office. The company has made a pledge of over $3,000. He left his car as a pledge that he would return with the money. Verb Her family pledged $100,000 toward the construction of a new school. He called to pledge money to the charity. Every morning, we pledge allegiance to the flag. teenagers who have pledged not to start smoking During his campaign, he pledged that he would not raise taxes. The chefs are pledged to keep the restaurant's special recipe a secret. He pledged his paintings as collateral for a loan.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Regulars at the Bloomingdale tavern, faces from the bar scene and teams from local breweries pledge to shave their heads in exchange for charitable donations. Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 Although this experience is nothing new for ethnic minorities, corporations have been publishing diversity and inclusion pledges in the wake of Black Lives Matter. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 The Republican National Committee had made the pledge a prerequisite for all candidates, and nearly every major contender signed, except for Trump, who skipped the debates. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024 Carbon emissions are dropping in the States, but not quite fast enough to meet Biden’s pledge to cut domestic emissions in half by 2030, compared with 2005 levels. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2024 News leaders around the world pledge support for journalists covering the war in Gaza. Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 The Kappa Sigma pledge hit his head after drinking heavily and fell backward down a flight of stairs, the parent of a student witness told The Washington Post. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Republicans’ abrupt blockade of ammo supplies might not have been so devastating for Ukraine’s war plans had the European Union honored its pledge to supply Ukraine with a million shells in 2023. David Axe, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Worth about $250 million at the time of the pledge, they were sold for just $37 million after Tellurian’s stock hit a three-year low following the notification that virtually all of Souki’s stake had been seized. Ben Stupples, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
Two other senior administration officials said that a failure by Congress to provide the funds could imperil the commitments of allies, who have also pledged to contribute to the mission. Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 Under this new regime, Mohammed gave Jews the same rights as Muslims and pledged that the crown would always protect them. Theo Zenou, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 Both candidates have pledged to clear the court’s congested case backlog and boasted their unforgiving prosecutorial records. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2024 Haley pledged to stay in the race even after losing to Trump in the first few states' nominating contests, including her home state of South Carolina on Feb. 24. Jeongyoon Han, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024 In the column, Alibaba’s chief voiced his support for Beijing’s efforts to seize the lead in AI, pledging to invest in the field and outlining his company’s efforts to develop generative artificial intelligence. Jane Zhang, Fortune Asia, 5 Mar. 2024 Following The Times’ investigation, the commission pledged to step up efforts to locate boxers and paid a record number of pensions last year. Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 The meeting is viewed in Israel as a warning from the Biden administration to Netanyahu, who has refused global demands for a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis and has pledged to continue the war in Gaza until Hamas is crushed. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 In June, Amazon pledged to allow merchants to sell via its Prime subscription program without using its own logistics network, announcing the change before the government complained that such practices were anticompetitive. David McCabe, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pledge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English plegge, plege "surety for a person, guarantor," borrowed from Anglo-French (also continental Old & Middle French plege, pleige), going back to early Medieval Latin plebium, plevium, plibium, noun derivative (with the Latin deverbal suffix -ium) of plebere "to give surety," probably blend of Latin praebeō, praebēre "to put forward, offer, provide" and an Old Low Franconian verb *plegan- cognate with Old Saxon plegan "to accept responsibility (for)," Middle Dutch pleghen "to look after," Old High German pflegan "to look (after), bear responsibility, vouch (for)" — more at plight entry 2

Note: The verb plebere, attested in the Lex Romana Curiensis (eighth century), was vernacularized as Old French/Anglo-French plevir "to give as surety, promise, swear," with conjugation change probably after garantir "to protect, warrant" (see warrant entry 2) and garir "to support, protect, cure" (see garrison entry 1); compare replevin entry 1.

Verb

Middle English pleggen "to promise, stand surety for," in part derivative of plegge, plege pledge entry 1; in part borrowed from Anglo-French pleger "to guarantee as surety, act as surety," derivative of plege pledge entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pledge was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near pledge

Cite this Entry

“Pledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pledge. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pledge

1 of 2 noun
1
: the handing over of something to another to assure that the giver will keep his or her promise
also : the thing handed over
2
: the state of being held as a security
given in pledge
3
: something that is a token or sign of something else
the ring is a pledge of love
4
5
: a promise or agreement that must be kept

pledge

2 of 2 verb
pledged; pledging
1
: to give as a pledge
2
: to drink to the health of : toast entry 3
3
: to obligate by a pledge
pledged myself to give $50
4
: to promise by a pledge
pledge money to charity

Legal Definition

pledge

1 of 2 noun
1
: a delivery of especially personal property as security for a debt or other obligation
broadly : the perfection of a security interest in collateral through possession of the collateral by a creditor or other promisee
2
a
: property and especially personal property that is used as security especially upon delivery
broadly : a security interest in collateral compare chattel mortgage at mortgage
b
: a contract under which the delivery of property (as personal property) as security takes place
3
a
: the state of being held as security or guaranty
property held in pledge
b
: something given as security for the performance of an act
4
: a binding promise to do or forbear

pledge

2 of 2 transitive verb
pledged; pledging
1
: to deliver or otherwise put forward as security for a debt or other obligation
pledged his car as collateral for the loan
2
: to bind by a pledge
we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honorDeclaration of Independence
3
: to assure or promise the performance or payment of
pledgor noun
or pledger

More from Merriam-Webster on pledge

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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