promise

noun prom·ise \ ˈprä-məs \

Definition of promise

1 a :a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified

b :a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act

2 :reason to expect something

little promise of relief

; especially :ground for expectation of success, improvement, or excellence

shows considerable promise

3 :something that is promised

See promise defined for English-language learners

See promise defined for kids

Examples of promise in a Sentence

She gave me her promise.
She never made a promise that she didn't intend to keep.
There is little promise of relief in the forecast.
They were attracted by the promise of success.
a sunny morning that gives every promise of a fine day
There is a promise of better days ahead.

Recent Examples of promise from the Web

Like the Fyre Festival, the card was built on a promise of exclusivity and luxury.

— kim bhasin, Bloomberg.com, "How a Black-Card Wannabe Went Down In Flames," 30 Aug. 2017
Sophie Sorenson, Lilly Cozzi, Chloe Robinson, Lauren Micek and Hope Havenhill provide promise for another 20-win season. 2.

— bob narang, Lake County News-Sun, "Girls volleyball preview: Division I recruit Kennedy Collins boosts Zion-Benton," 29 Aug. 2017
The fight, two years in the making, promises to be one of the most important matches in boxing’s history, with fans and followers expecting the hype of Mayweather-Pacquiao but with explosive results to back it up.

— kevin acee, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Alvarez-Golovkin ready for real fight," 29 Aug. 2017
There were construction delays and even the recall of Troy’s tea party mayor, Janice Daniels, elected on a promise to block the center.

— bill laitner, Detroit Free Press, "Was costly Amtrak stop near Detroit worth the fight? Naysayers remain but riders say yes.," 26 Aug. 2017
Despite its promise, there are several challenges holding back the development of parts of the Arctic and the use of its resources.

— frank jordans, The Seattle Times, "Warming Arctic spurs battles for riches, shipping routes," 22 Aug. 2017
Despite his campaign promises, labor’s voices are not being heard on crucial policy issues, like infrastructure, health care, tax reform, workers’ rights, or workplace health and safety.

— thea lee, Cosmopolitan, "Why I Served on Trump’s Manufacturing Council — and Why I Left," 21 Aug. 2017
The kitchen light was already on as Kevin Scarbrough rose for another day of empty promises.

— alden woods, azcentral, "$200 from home: Renters in the housing crisis are often stuck between help and affordability," 17 Aug. 2017
This led to a 3-6 record, and a promise by juniors like Rummell to do something about it as seniors.

— gene chamberlain, Elgin Courier-News, "All-purpose Nicolas Rummell and experienced lineup expect to lift Hampshire," 16 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'promise.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of promise

Middle English promis, from Latin promissum, from neuter of promissus, past participle of promittere to send forth, promise, from pro- forth + mittere to send

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

promise Synonyms

Synonyms

oath, pledge, troth, vow, word

Related Words

appointment, arrangement, commitment, engagement, obligation; agreement, compact, contract, covenant; assurance, guarantee, guaranty, undertaking; bail, bond, deposit, gage, pawn, security, token, warranty

promise

verb

Definition of promise

promised; promising

transitive verb

1 :to pledge to do, bring about, or provide

promise aid

2 archaic :warrant, assure

3 chiefly dialectal :betroth

4 :to suggest beforehand :give promise of

dark clouds promise rain

intransitive verb

1 :to make a promise

2 :to give ground for expectation :be imminent

—

promisee

play \ˌprä-mə-ˈsē\ noun

—

promisor

play \-ˈsȯr\ or less commonly promiser play \ˈprä-mə-sər\ noun

See promise defined for English-language learners

Examples of promise in a Sentence

Promise me that you won't tell anyone.
I can't promise you that I'll be able to go, but I'll do my best.
The governor promised that the prisoners would receive a fair trial.
She promised to announce the results tomorrow.
International organizations have promised aid.
I promise to be careful.
You always promise, but you never do what you say you will.
“I won't tell anyone.” “Promise?” “Yes, I promise.”
Those gray skies promise rain.

Recent Examples of promise from the Web

Tony Blair, on the other hand, bought himself a year when his party moved against him in 2006 by promising to leave within 12 months.

— alex morales, Bloomberg.com, "May Says She'll Stand for Re-Election. Tories Laugh in Response," 30 Aug. 2017
Funding for Harvey recovery, which Trump has promised, will make the math even trickier.

— linda feldmann, The Christian Science Monitor, "Harvey tests Trump on leadership – and on policy," 30 Aug. 2017
Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has promised to restore funding.

— dan sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Florida Senate looking to boost Bright Futures financial aid," 30 Aug. 2017
Reyes-Housholder further argues that female presidents are more likely to mobilize a constituency of women by promising women-friendly change.

— susan franceschet, Washington Post, "Chile’s president is a woman — and she just scored a major policy victory for women. Here’s why that matters.," 30 Aug. 2017
According to the SEC, Bennett, 55, who also has a home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, targeted mainly elderly or unsophisticated investors, and raised money from at least 46 investors by promising annual returns as high as 15 percent from DJB notes.

— reuters, Fortune, "Ex-Radio Host Hoped ‘Hoodoo’ Spell Would Stop $20 Million Fraud Probe," 29 Aug. 2017
But neither physician could promise that this anti-inflammatory power had anything to do with statins’ heart protection.

— jennifer couzin-frankel, Science | AAAS, "Anti-inflammatory cuts risk of heart attack," 27 Aug. 2017
A Confederate group asked for permission to hold a ceremony, promising to be non-political, non-partisan.

— Howard County Times, "Calls to remove plaque started decades ago [Letter]," 25 Aug. 2017
Duterte had promised to fill Manila Bay with the bodies of traffickers, but support for his drug war may flip once people realize that many of those killed are not heartless criminals, but regular people, and sometimes the innocent.

— j. weston phippen, The Atlantic, "Is This the End of Duterte's Drug War?," 24 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of promise

15th century

promise Synonyms

Synonyms

covenant, pledge, swear, vow, give one's word

Related Words

affiance, betroth, plight, troth; accede, agree, assent, consent; contract, engage, ensure, guarantee, undertake; affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, declare, insist, warrant

PROMISE Defined for English Language Learners

promise

noun

Definition of promise for English Language Learners

: a statement telling someone that you will definitely do something or that something will definitely happen in the future
: an indication of future success or improvement
: a reason to expect that something will happen in the future

promise

verb

Definition of promise for English Language Learners

: to tell someone that you will definitely do something or that something will definitely happen in the future
: to make (something) seem likely : to show signs of (something that is likely or expected to happen)

PROMISE Defined for Kids

promise

noun prom·ise \ ˈprä-məs \

Definition of promise for Students

1 :a statement by a person that he or she will do or not do something

I made a promise to pay within a month.

2 :a cause or ground for hope

These plans give promise of success.

promise

verb

Definition of promise for Students

promised; promising

1 :to state that something will or will not be done

I promise to clean my room this afternoon.

2 :to give reason to expect

Dark clouds promise rain.

Law Dictionary

promise

noun prom·ise

legal Definition of promise

:a declaration or manifestation especially in a contract of an intention to act or refrain from acting in a specified way that gives the party to whom it is made a right to expect its fulfillment

— aleatory promise

:a promise (as to compensate an insured individual for future loss) whose fulfillment is dependent on a fortuitous or uncertain event

— collateral promise

:a promise usually to pay the debt of another that is ancillary to an original promise, is not made for the benefit of the party making it, and must be in writing to be enforceable

— false promise

:a promise that is made with no intention of carrying it out and especially with intent to deceive or defraud

— gratuitous promise

:a promise that is made without consideration and is usually unenforceable — called also naked promise; compare nudum pactum

Note: A gratuitous promise may be enforceable under promissory estoppel.

— illusory promise

:a purported promise that does not actually bind the party making it to a particular performance

an illusory promise depending solely on the will of the supposed promisor

— implied promise

:a promise that is considered to exist despite the lack of an agreement or express terms to that effect and the breach of which may be recognized as a cause of action

claimed a breach of an implied promise that he would not be terminated at will

— see also promise implied in fact and promise implied in law in this entry

— naked promise

:gratuitous promise in this entry

— original promise

:a promise (as in a suretyship) usually to pay the debt of another that is made primarily for the benefit of the party making it and need not be in writing to be enforceable — compare collateral promise in this entry, main purpose rule

— promise implied in fact

:an implied promise that exists by inference from specific facts, circumstances, or acts of the parties

— promise implied in law

:an implied promise that exists on the basis of a legally enforceable duty and not on the basis of words or conduct which are promissory in form or support an inference of a promise