promise

1 of 2

noun

prom·​ise ˈprä-məs How to pronounce promise (audio)
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

promise

2 of 2

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 noun
promisor noun
or less commonly promiser

Examples of promise in a Sentence

Noun 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. Verb 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
Noun
The promise of federal funding has prompted several large chip construction projects nationwide, including a second massive site on the other side of Phoenix, where 12,000 construction workers are building a $40 billion manufacturing complex for Taiwan’s TSMC. Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 The promise, and potential dangers, of this team is represented in Glasnow, its opening day starter. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 At stake for Lego is to find a way to reach its promise of using sustainable materials in its plastic building blocks by 2032 and becoming net carbon neutral in 2050. Christian Wienberg, Fortune Europe, 18 Mar. 2024 That's the promise of Timekettle, a beacon of progress in translation technology, now realized with the X1—a device not merely improving but revolutionizing real-time language translation. William Mullane, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 After three minutes of ruminating on the pressure and early promises of fame — the money, cars, and alcohol that flowed to him as a reigning pop prince — Timberlake starts rapping. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 The most famous of these is the promise to do no harm, or to avoid intentional wrongdoing. IEEE Spectrum, 15 Mar. 2024 The school now says the city isn’t fulfilling its promises. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 Harness the promise of A.I. and protect us from its peril. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
Each time, Jones said he’d been promised nothing in exchange for his testimony. The Enquirer, 21 Mar. 2024 On social media, Tyler, the Creator and Kanye West came to his defense while Blake himself promised to come up with a viable solution to the music industry’s woes. A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024 Still, 3 Body Problem, out this week, promises to be his biggest project yet. Ian Malone, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 Haiti and the Dominican Republic are both in crisis, Tony told me, and Puerto Rico seems to promise a more dignified style of poverty, perhaps a backdoor to U.S. citizenship. Carina Del Valle Schorske, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 The sheer number of eyes also promises a plethora of fantastic angles and perspectives. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 With no political solution in sight, the international community dithering and the gangs promising only more chaos, Haiti seems set for nothing but more pain. Matt Rivers, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024 Unlike the country’s other west coast destinations that can have rough seas and rocky coastlines, this popular beach town nestled against Banderas Bay promises gorgeous, calm, swimmable waters and soft, golden sand beaches. Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024 Running now through March 25, Amazon is promising the usual: Oodles of deals on everything your heart could ever want. Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'promise.' 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 promis, from Latin promissum, from neuter of promissus, past participle of promittere to send forth, promise, from pro- forth + mittere to send

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near promise

Cite this Entry

“Promise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promise. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

promise

1 of 2 noun
prom·​ise ˈpräm-əs How to pronounce promise (audio)
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 noun
Etymology

Noun

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

More from Merriam-Webster on promise

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