Phrase guide

break one's promise

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To fail to keep or maintain an assurance, bond or commitment one has made.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go back on one's word, break one's word, renege on one's promise

Antonyms: keep one's promise, stay true to one's word, be as good as one's word, deliver the goods

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: խոստում խախտել (xostum xaxtel) — to break one's word
  • Armenian: խոստում դրժել (xostum držel) — to break one's word
  • Chinese Mandarin: 食言 (shíyán) — to break one's word
  • Finnish: rikkoa lupauksensa — to break one's word
  • French: ne pas tenir sa promesse — to break one's word
  • German: sein Versprechen brechen / nicht halten — to break one's word
  • Polish: łamać obietnicę — to break one's word
  • Polish: złamać obietnicę — to break one's word
  • Romanian: încălca o promisiune — to break one's word
  • Russian: нару́шить обеща́ние (narúšitʹ obeščánije) — to break one's word
  • Turkish: sözünü bozmak — to break one's word
  • Turkish: sözünden dönmek — to break one's word
  • Turkish: sözünü tutmamak — to break one's word