Definitions for promise
ˈprɒm ɪspromise

Princeton's WordNet(2.67 / 6 votes)Rate this definition:

1. promise(noun)

   a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future

2. promise, hope(verb)

   grounds for feeling hopeful about the future

   "there is little or no promise that he will recover"

3. promise, assure(verb)

   make a promise or commitment

4. promise(verb)

   promise to undertake or give

   "I promise you my best effort"

5. predict, foretell, prognosticate, call, forebode, anticipate, promise(verb)

   make a prediction about; tell in advance

   "Call the outcome of an election"

6. promise(verb)

   give grounds for expectations

   "The new results were promising"; "The results promised fame and glory"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. promise(Noun)

   An oath or affirmation; a vow.

2. promise(Noun)

   A transaction between two persons whereby the first person undertakes in the future to render some service or gift to the second person or devotes something valuable now and here to his use.

3. promise(Verb)

   to commit to something or action; to make an oath; make a vow.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Promise(adj)

   in general, a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it to do, or to forbear to do, a specified act; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act

   Etymology: [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

2. Promise(adj)

   an engagement by one person to another, either in words or in writing, but properly not under seal, for the performance or nonperformance of some particular thing. The word promise is used to denote the mere engagement of a person, without regard to the consideration for it, or the corresponding duty of the party to whom it is made

   Etymology: [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

3. Promise(adj)

   that which causes hope, expectation, or assurance; especially, that which affords expectation of future distinction; as, a youth of great promise

   Etymology: [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

4. Promise(adj)

   bestowal, fulfillment, or grant of what is promised

   Etymology: [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

5. Promise(verb)

   to engage to do, give, make, or to refrain from doing, giving, or making, or the like; to covenant; to engage; as, to promise a visit; to promise a cessation of hostilities; to promise the payment of money

   Etymology: [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

6. Promise(verb)

   to afford reason to expect; to cause hope or assurance of; as, the clouds promise rain

   Etymology: [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

7. Promise(verb)

   to make declaration of or give assurance of, as some benefit to be conferred; to pledge or engage to bestow; as, the proprietors promised large tracts of land; the city promised a reward

   Etymology: [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

8. Promise(verb)

   to give assurance by a promise, or binding declaration

   Etymology: [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

9. Promise(verb)

   to afford hopes or expectation; to give ground to expect good; rarely, to give reason to expect evil

   Etymology: [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

Freebase(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Promise

   A promise is a commitment by someone to do or not do something. As a noun promise means a declaration assuring that one will or will not do something. As a verb it means to commit oneself by a promise to do or give. It can also mean a capacity for good, similar to a value that is to be realized in the near future. In the law of contract, an exchange of promises is usually held to be legally enforceable, according to the Latin maxim pacta sunt servanda.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Promise

   prom′is, n. an engagement made by a person either verbally or in writing to do or keep from doing something: expectation or that which causes expectation: a ground for hope of future excellence: (rare) fulfilment of what is promised.—v.t. to make an engagement to do or not to do something: to afford reason to expect: to assure: to engage to bestow.—v.i. to assure one by a promise: to afford hopes or expectations: (rare) to stand sponsor.—ns. Prom′ise-breach (Shak.), violation of promise; Prom′ise-break′er (Shak.), a violator of promises.—adj. Prom′ise-crammed (Shak.), crammed or filled with promises.—ns. Promisēē′, the person to whom a promise is made; Prom′iser, Prom′isor.—adj. Prom′ising, affording ground for hope or expectation: likely to turn out well.—advs. Prom′isingly; Prom′issorily.—adj. Prom′issory, containing a promise of some engagement to be fulfilled.—n. Prom′issory-note, a note by one person promising to pay a sum of money to another, or to bearer, at a certain date, or at sight, or on demand.—Promised land, the land promised by God to Abraham and his seed: Canaan: heaven.—Be promised (rare), to have an engagement; Breach of promise (see Breach); Conditional promise, a promise of which the obligation depends on certain conditions—opp. to Absolute promise; Express promise, a promise expressed orally or in writing; The Promise, the assurance of God to Abraham that his descendants should become the chosen people. [Fr. promesse—L. promissa, promittĕre, to send forward—pro, forward, mittĕre, to send.]

Editors Contribution(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. promise

   Agree to do or complete an act.

   They made a promise to marry on a specific date this year which is easily achieved.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 10, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'promise' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3847

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'promise' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4171

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'promise' in Nouns Frequency: #1255

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'promise' in Verbs Frequency: #321

Anagrams for promise »

1. imposer, semipro

2. Semipro

How to pronounce promise?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say promise in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of promise in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of promise in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of promise in a Sentence

1. Carl Shepherd:

   Macri has a lot of support at the minute, but when you are making such wide-reaching reforms, you can't please everyone, there are no shortage of firebrand politicians who will promise a moon on a stick.

2. Brian Frosh:

   We will resume this litigation immediately if the president breaks his promise of continued enforcement.

3. Steven Mnuchin:

   As part of the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this Administration committed to making taxes simple and fair for American families. We are delivering on this promise, the new, postcard-size Form 1040 is designed to simplify and expedite filing tax returns, providing much-needed relief to hardworking taxpayers.

4. Benjamin Franklin:

   Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.

5. Jaclyn Smith:

   I feel appreciative that people have responded to that and associate value with me, i think our success is that we really put our hearts into it, but we can bring it at a lower price point. To make women feel good, that in itself is a true accomplishment… It’s gratifying for me… I feel that I made that promise. It gives purpose and dignity to what we do.

Images & Illustrations of promise

Popularity rank by frequency of use