promising

adjective

prom·​is·​ing ˈprä-mə-siŋ How to pronounce promising (audio)
: full of promise : likely to succeed or to yield good results
a promising new medicine
promisingly adverb

Example Sentences

The neighborhood didn't look very promising. a promising writer who just may write the great American novel someday
Recent Examples on the Web While this is a promising matchup on paper, injuries in the Philadelphia locker room could very well dampen the mood. Michael Arinze, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2023 With a top target for Justin Fields now in the fold, the Bears are in a promising spot to further their efforts to provide their quarterback sufficient support. Michael Middlehurst-schwartz, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2023 One of the most promising updates was provided about the new online renewal pilot which was first announced last year, where travelers can renew their passport online. Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2023 But rather than simply acquiring the distribution rights to more promising projects, Apple’s next move to boost its streaming platform’s profile involves making a bigger push into physical theaters in coming years. Charles Pulliam-moore, The Verge, 23 Mar. 2023 Iron-nitride magnets, such as this one from startup Niron Magnetics, are among the most promising of an emerging crop of permanent magnets that do not use rare-earth elements. IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2023 Mitja Lo Duca was one of the most promising mountaineers in 1980s Yugoslavia. Ann Abel, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023 While the recent trial showed promising evidence that Nexletol could have a role in high cholesterol treatment, statins still have the longest track record, so providers will probably keep using them as first-line treatment. Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 22 Mar. 2023 The Tigers added Duque Hebbert, a promising young right-hander who whiffed three of the biggest young stars in baseball — Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez and Rafael Devers — in mop-up duty for Nicaragua last Monday. Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 21 Mar. 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of promising was in 1594

Cite this Entry

“Promising.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promising. Accessed 2 Apr. 2023.

Kids Definition

promising

adjective
prom·​is·​ing
ˈpräm-ə-siŋ
: likely to turn out well
a promising student
promisingly
-siŋ-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on promising

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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