What does promise mean?
Definitions for promise
ˈprɒm ɪsprom·ise
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word promise .
Princeton's WordNet
promisenoun
a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
promise, hopeverb
grounds for feeling hopeful about the future
"there is little or no promise that he will recover"
promise, assureverb
make a promise or commitment
promiseverb
promise to undertake or give
"I promise you my best effort"
predict, foretell, prognosticate, call, forebode, anticipate, promiseverb
make a prediction about; tell in advance
"Call the outcome of an election"
promiseverb
give grounds for expectations
"The new results were promising"; "The results promised fame and glory"
Wiktionary
promisenoun
An oath or affirmation; a vow.
promisenoun
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.
promiseverb
to commit to something or action; to make an oath; make a vow.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
PROMISEnoun
Etymology: promissum, Lat. promise, promesse, Fr.
I eat the air, promise cramm’d; you cannot feed capons so. Sha.
His promises were, as he then was, mighty;
But his performance, as he now is, nothing. William Shakespeare.O Lord, let thy promise unto David be established. 1 Chron.
Behold, she said, perform’d in ev’ry part
My promise made; and Vulcan’s labour’d art. Dryden.Let any man consider, how many sorrows he would have escaped, had God called him to his rest, and then say, whether the promise to deliver the just from the evils to come, ought not to be made our daily prayer. William Wake.
Now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. Acts.
Your young prince Mamillius is a gentleman of the greatest promise. William Shakespeare, Winter’s Tale.
To Promiseverb
Etymology: promettre, Fr. promitto, Lat.
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption. 2 Peter ii. 18.
I could not expect such an effect as I found, which seldom reaches to the degree that is promised by the prescribers of any remedies. William Temple, Miscel.
To Promiseverb
Promising is the very air o’ th’ time; it opens the eyes of expectation: performance is ever the duller for his act. William Shakespeare.
I dare promise for this play, that in the roughness of the numbers, which was so designed, you will see somewhat more masterly than any of my former tragedies. Dryden.
As he promised in the law, he will shortly have mercy, and gather us together. 2 Mac. ii. 18.
All the pleasure we can take, when we met these promising sparks, is in the disappointment. Henry Felton.
She brib’d my stay, with more than human charms;
Nay promis’d, vainly promis’d to bestow
Immortal life. Alexander Pope, Odyssey.Will not the ladies be afraid of the lion?
—— I fear it, I promise you. William Shakespeare.
Wikipedia
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.
ChatGPT
promise
A promise can be defined as a commitment or assurance made by one party to another, typically stating that a certain action will or will not be taken in the future. It is a declaration of intent to fulfill a specific obligation or to achieve a certain outcome, often involving trust and reliance between the parties involved. Promises are commonly made in various personal, professional, and legal contexts, and are based on the expectation that they will be honored and upheld.
Webster Dictionary
Promiseadjective
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
Promiseadjective
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
Promiseadjective
that which causes hope, expectation, or assurance; especially, that which affords expectation of future distinction; as, a youth of great promise
Promiseadjective
bestowal, fulfillment, or grant of what is promised
Promiseverb
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
Promiseverb
to afford reason to expect; to cause hope or assurance of; as, the clouds promise rain
Promiseverb
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
Promiseverb
to give assurance by a promise, or binding declaration
Promiseverb
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. ]
Wikidata
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
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
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
Surnames Frequency by Census Records
PROMISE
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Promise is ranked #88336 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
The Promise surname appeared 210 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Promise.
71.4% or 150 total occurrences were Black.
20.4% or 43 total occurrences were White.
3.8% or 8 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
2.3% or 5 total occurrences were Asian.
Matched Categories
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'promise ' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3847
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'promise ' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4171
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'promise ' in Nouns Frequency: #1255
Verbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'promise ' in Verbs Frequency: #321
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
- [["1520","5"],["1524","3"],["1563","14"],["1564","3"],["1568","3"],["1572","15"],["1574","3"],["1575","2"],["1579","21"],["1581","66"],["1582","10"],["1584","5"],["1587","31"],["1588","3"],["1589","1"],["1590","4"],["1592","4"],["1593","4"],["1598","3"],["1600","2"],["1603","6"],["1606","3"],["1607","14"],["1611","3"],["1612","2"],["1619","1"],["1620","19"],["1623","4"],["1624","24"],["1625","1"],["1629","33"],["1630","15"],["1631","7"],["1632","2"],["1634","9"],["1635","16"],["1636","4"],["1637","24"],["1638","14"],["1640","8"],["1641","1"],["1642","6"],["1643","18"],["1644","206"],["1645","13"],["1647","15"],["1648","53"],["1649","9"],["1650","16"],["1651","70"],["1652","45"],["1653","54"],["1654","5"],["1655","209"],["1656","26"],["1657","11"],["1658","67"],["1659","23"],["1660","11"],["1661","5"],["1662","11"],["1663","9"],["1664","6"],["1665","6"],["1666","2"],["1667","78"],["1668","142"],["1669","28"],["1670","67"],["1671","3"],["1672","13"],["1673","89"],["1674","15"],["1675","62"],["1676","141"],["1677","25"],["1678","251"],["1679","82"],["1680","80"],["1681","182"],["1682","138"],["1683","284"],["1684","114"],["1685","156"],["1686","66"],["1687","68"],["1688","71"],["1689","46"],["1690","46"],["1691","6"],["1692","114"],["1693","39"],["1694","80"],["1695","62"],["1696","38"],["1697","62"],["1698","154"],["1699","180"],["1700","162"],["1701","113"],["1702","148"],["1703","191"],["1704","204"],["1705","254"],["1706","318"],["1707","193"],["1708","199"],["1709","160"],["1710","250"],["1711","250"],["1712","205"],["1713","125"],["1714","342"],["1715","337"],["1716","354"],["1717","511"],["1718","175"],["1719","224"],["1720","406"],["1721","280"],["1722","553"],["1723","405"],["1724","408"],["1725","645"],["1726","520"],["1727","429"],["1728","470"],["1729","378"],["1730","398"],["1731","435"],["1732","522"],["1733","218"],["1734","343"],["1735","479"],["1736","422"],["1737","439"],["1738","517"],["1739","237"],["1740","501"],["1741","243"],["1742","409"],["1743","308"],["1744","738"],["1745","293"],["1746","218"],["1747","802"],["1748","689"],["1749","440"],["1750","744"],["1751","1041"],["1752","727"],["1753","1082"],["1754","1316"],["1755","1342"],["1756","419"],["1757","880"],["1758","822"],["1759","1153"],["1760","858"],["1761","1366"],["1762","861"],["1763","1700"],["1764","933"],["1765","967"],["1766","1497"],["1767","1360"],["1768","1371"],["1769","940"],["1770","1328"],["1771","1117"],["1772","1755"],["1773","1390"],["1774","940"],["1775","1957"],["1776","1143"],["1777","1079"],["1778","1122"],["1779","789"],["1780","1081"],["1781","1325"],["1782","1361"],["1783","1031"],["1784","1464"],["1785","1471"],["1786","1463"],["1787","2590"],["1788","2837"],["1789","2522"],["1790","2969"],["1791","2887"],["1792","2915"],["1793","2708"],["1794","2456"],["1795","4217"],["1796","4009"],["1797","2758"],["1798","2630"],["1799","3175"],["1800","4513"],["1801","6446"],["1802","5936"],["1803","6356"],["1804","7083"],["1805","6635"],["1806","8774"],["1807","9685"],["1808","8539"],["1809","9826"],["1810","12477"],["1811","15127"],["1812","14758"],["1813","9771"],["1814","12349"],["1815","10987"],["1816","11013"],["1817","13290"],["1818","13924"],["1819","10962"],["1820","17011"],["1821","15364"],["1822","19288"],["1823","18309"],["1824","21936"],["1825","26269"],["1826","19146"],["1827","19025"],["1828","19761"],["1829","20036"],["1830","29384"],["1831","22284"],["1832","23566"],["1833","21501"],["1834","17891"],["1835","23427"],["1836","23120"],["1837","22282"],["1838","22425"],["1839","30829"],["1840","29678"],["1841","27640"],["1842","25812"],["1843","28862"],["1844","32881"],["1845","31678"],["1846","30995"],["1847","31336"],["1848","29703"],["1849","31229"],["1850","31489"],["1851","36401"],["1852","35936"],["1853","40848"],["1854","45264"],["1855","38282"],["1856","41673"],["1857","32154"],["1858","34146"],["1859","35857"],["1860","36285"],["1861","28796"],["1862","24121"],["1863","27205"],["1864","30508"],["1865","30629"],["1866","32316"],["1867","31000"],["1868","31871"],["1869","33821"],["1870","36269"],["1871","33801"],["1872","33469"],["1873","34686"],["1874","37352"],["1875","37244"],["1876","38540"],["1877","37731"],["1878","37382"],["1879","36196"],["1880","44742"],["1881","42618"],["1882","47928"],["1883","53092"],["1884","50823"],["1885","49853"],["1886","40039"],["1887","45111"],["1888","44231"],["1889","38011"],["1890","41299"],["1891","44446"],["1892","45884"],["1893","47454"],["1894","46627"],["1895","49932"],["1896","52033"],["1897","51584"],["1898","57703"],["1899","64854"],["1900","69811"],["1901","67580"],["1902","67338"],["1903","65238"],["1904","67870"],["1905","69740"],["1906","68433"],["1907","64835"],["1908","63727"],["1909","55730"],["1910","61535"],["1911","63620"],["1912","59527"],["1913","60665"],["1914","59736"],["1915","49778"],["1916","46921"],["1917","50620"],["1918","41821"],["1919","50303"],["1920","57506"],["1921","61234"],["1922","59289"],["1923","46392"],["1924","43684"],["1925","45264"],["1926","44739"],["1927","47063"],["1928","46980"],["1929","45196"],["1930","50599"],["1931","45402"],["1932","42762"],["1933","36012"],["1934","40144"],["1935","42442"],["1936","43456"],["1937","43707"],["1938","48510"],["1939","50295"],["1940","40236"],["1941","38612"],["1942","33590"],["1943","30681"],["1944","27743"],["1945","31734"],["1946","46783"],["1947","51767"],["1948","51968"],["1949","55045"],["1950","62273"],["1951","56462"],["1952","60445"],["1953","52240"],["1954","54881"],["1955","61035"],["1956","62911"],["1957","71198"],["1958","65755"],["1959","67668"],["1960","82865"],["1961","84800"],["1962","89519"],["1963","90709"],["1964","92979"],["1965","108056"],["1966","109172"],["1967","114007"],["1968","126462"],["1969","131034"],["1970","130687"],["1971","124389"],["1972","126524"],["1973","117329"],["1974","115817"],["1975","114263"],["1976","117654"],["1977","125821"],["1978","122983"],["1979","130419"],["1980","128536"],["1981","137864"],["1982","139609"],["1983","145916"],["1984","157133"],["1985","159638"],["1986","175329"],["1987","183412"],["1988","185414"],["1989","198174"],["1990","218090"],["1991","213131"],["1992","233443"],["1993","249356"],["1994","248252"],["1995","260511"],["1996","277915"],["1997","282897"],["1998","301465"],["1999","325289"],["2000","368786"],["2001","386393"],["2002","414889"],["2003","473853"],["2004","538112"],["2005","511670"],["2006","571984"],["2007","623223"],["2008","900449"]]
Anagrams for promise »
imposer
semipro
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of promise in Chaldean Numerology is: 3
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of promise in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5
Examples of promise in a Sentence
We watch antisemitism grow, not just on our campuses, but we watched it grow in the halls of Congress, i promised you last year that as speaker she will no longer be on Foreign Affairs, and I’m keeping that promise.
When I was two my father died from being gunned down to death, i made a promise to myself I would never touch a gun in my life time, I shoot with my right foot so it has a deeper meaning.
We promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears.
George W. Bush, speech, November 19, 1999:
In the defense of our nation, a president must be a clear-eyed realist. There are limits to the smiles and scowls of diplomacy. Armies and missiles are not stopped by stiff notes of condemnation. They are held in check by strength and purpose and the promise of swift punishment.
This shows that the FARC is fulfilling its promise and that they are willing to confess to the victims, i feel satisfied that this will help heal.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for promise
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- beloweAfrikaans
- وعد, تعهد, أوعدArabic
- promesa, prometreCatalan, Valencian
- slib, slíbitCzech
- addoWelsh
- løfteDanish
- VersprechenGerman
- ŋugbedodoEwe
- υπόσχομαιGreek
- promeso, promesiEsperanto
- promesa, prometerSpanish
- نوید وعده قولPersian
- luvata, lupausFinnish
- vœu, promesse, promettreFrench
- The word "promise" in Irish is "gealltanas."Irish
- gealltanasScottish Gaelic
- promesa, prometerGalician
- הבטחה, הבטיח, נדרHebrew
- सौगन्द, शपथ, वचन देना, वचनHindi
- pwomètHaitian Creole
- ígéret, ígér, megígérHungarian
- խոստում, խոստանալArmenian
- berjanji, menjanjikanIndonesian
- promisarIdo
- lofa, heita, strengja heit, loforðIcelandic
- promessa, giuramento, promettere, voto, giurareItalian
- הַבטָחָהHebrew
- 約束, 約束するJapanese
- ಭರವಸೆKannada
- 약속Korean
- بهڵێن, بهڵێندانKurdish
- promissio, promitto, promissum, polliceorLatin
- Verspriechen, VerspriechungLuxembourgish, Letzeburgesch
- JanjiMalay
- beloven, belofteDutch
- love, løfteNorwegian
- ałgáádeitʼááh, ádee hazhdidziihNavajo, Navaho
- obietnica, obiecaćPolish
- promessa, prometerPortuguese
- promisiune, promite, legământRomanian
- обещание, обещатьRussian
- वचन, प्रतिज्ञा, व्रत, शपथSanskrit
- obljuba, obljubitiSlovene
- löfte, lovaSwedish
- ahadiSwahili
- ఒట్టుTelugu
- ให้สัญญาThai
- söz, söz vermek, vaatTurkish
- обіцянкаUkrainian
- وعدہ, شپتھUrdu
- lời hứaVietnamese
- léríYoruba
- 诺言Chinese
Get even more translations for promise »
Translation
Find a translation for the promise definition in other languages:
Select another language:
- - Select -
- 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Word of the Day
Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?
Citation
Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"promise ." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 31 Oct. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/promise+>.
Discuss these promise definitions with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In