promise
Forms
- Plural
- promises
- present (v1)
- promise
- past (v2)
- promised
- past participle (v3)
- promised
- present participle
- promising
- 3rd person singular
- promises
Definitions
1.An oath or affirmation; a vow.
- When I make a promise, I always stick to it.
- He broke his promise: he said he'd return my jewellery, but never did.
2.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.
- I want you to keep your promise.
- You should not break your promise.
- I promise to do my very best.
3.Reason to expect improvement or success; potential.
- She shows great promise as an actress.
- My native country was full of youthful promise.
4.A placeholder object representing the eventual result of an asynchronous operation.
- You can often use observables instead of promises to deliver values asynchronously.
1.To commit to (some action or outcome), or to assure (a person) of such commitment; to make an oath or vow.
- She promised to never return to this town again.
- I can't promise success, but I'll do the best I can.
- He promised me a big kiss if I would drive him to the airport.
2.To give grounds for expectation, especially of something good.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1262
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Common
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English promis, promisse, borrowed from Old French promesse, from Medieval Latin prōmissa, Latin prōmissum (“a promise”), feminine and neuter past participles of prōmittō (“to send forth, to say beforehand, to promise”), from pro (“forth”) + mittere (“to send”); see mission.