promise

verb

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

ˌprä-mə-ˈsē 

noun

promisor

ˌprä-mə-ˈsȯr 

noun

or less commonly promiser

ˈprä-mə-sər 

Synonyms of promise

• vow
• swear
• pledge

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 on the Web

Lee, who took office a year ago, campaigned hard for the new parcel tax, unveiling a spending plan last month that promises to budget nearly two dozen new police officer positions and replace outdated fire engines with newer models. —Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 3 June 2026

Budgeting apps promise to help users gain control of their finances by providing a view into their spending habits and transactions. —Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 June 2026

Hart even promised – and later, along with Brunson delivered – to pick up the tab at Kelly’s, a local watering hole down the street from campus. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 June 2026

Club sources say several Spanish second-tier sides were also keen to sign him, but Lyngby presented the best choice of the clubs promising playing time. —Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing promise

• a lick and a promise
• breach of promise
• break one's promise
• full of promise
• go back on one's promise
• hold/have promise
• I (can) promise you
• keep/fulfill one's promise
• lick and a promise
• make a promise
• promise (someone) the stars/moon/earth/world
• show (a lot of) promise

Rhymes for promise

• commis
• glomus
• chironomus
• lepomis

Kids Definition

promise

1 of 2 noun

prom·​ise ˈpräm-əs 

1

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

a promise to pay within a month

2

: something promised

3

: a cause or ground for hope

give promise of success

shows promise

promise

2 of 2 verb

promised; promising

1

: to give a promise about one's own actions

I promise to clean my room this afternoon

2

: to give reason to expect

dark clouds promising rain

promisor

ˌpräm-ə-ˈsȯ(ə)r 

noun

Etymology

Middle English promisse, promis "promise," derived from Latin promissus, past participle of promittere "to send forth, promise," from pro- "forward, forth" and mittere "to send, throw" — related to message

Legal Definition

promise

noun

prom·​ise

: 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

a promise implied in law that one will be compensated for services rendered and accepted