name
Meaning 1
A female given name from English.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
promise
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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɒmɪs/
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Atlantic-Canada, General-American: /ˈpɹɑmɪs/
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California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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Canada, dialectal: /ˈpɹɒmɪs/ of the US
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Australian: /ˈpɹɔmɪs/
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New-Zealand: [ˈpɹɔ̟mɪs]
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rhymes with (Received Pronunciation) -ɒmɪs
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rhymes with (General American) -ɑmɪs
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CMU ARPABET: P R AA1 M AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
An oath or affirmation; a vow.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Examples
- When I make a promise, I always stick to it.
- He broke his promise: he said he'd return my jewellery, but never did.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
Reason to expect improvement or success; potential.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Examples
- She shows great promise as an actress.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
A placeholder object representing the eventual result of an asynchronous operation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
Bestowal or fulfillment of what is promised.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To commit to (some action or outcome), or to assure (a person) of such commitment; to make an oath or vow.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive, ditransitive
Examples
- If you promise not to tell anyone, I will let you have this cake for free.
- She promised to never return to this town again.
- He promised me a big kiss if I would drive him to the airport.
- I can't promise success, but I'll do the best I can.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
To give grounds for expectation, especially of something good.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
Examples
- The clouds promise rain.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 9
grounds for feeling hopeful about the future
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- there is little or no promise that he will recover
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hope
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: expectation, outlook, prospect
Narrower terms: rainbow
noun
Meaning 10
a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: commitment, dedication, speech act
Narrower terms: oath, parole, word, word of honor, betrothal, troth, engagement, pinning, rain check
verb
Meaning 11
make a promise or commitment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: assure
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: declare
Narrower terms: pledge, plight, swear off, contract, undertake, guarantee
verb
Meaning 12
promise to undertake or give
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- I promise you my best effort
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: declare
verb
Meaning 13
make a prediction about; tell in advance
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Call the outcome of an election
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: predict, foretell, prognosticate, call, forebode, anticipate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: guess, venture, pretend, hazard
Narrower terms: read, second-guess, outguess, augur, bet, wager, forecast, calculate, prophesy, vaticinate
verb
Meaning 14
give grounds for expectations
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The new results were promising
- The results promised fame and glory
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: be
History
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. Compare admit, commit, permit, etc. Displaced native ġehātan (“to promise”) and ġehāt (“a promise”).
Across languages
Translations
291 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Albanian: premtim — vow
- Albanian: zotim — vow
- Arabic: وَعْد (waʕd) — vow
- Arabic: وَعْدَة (waʕda) — vow
- Arabic: وعد (waʕd) — vow
- Arabic: وَعَد (waʕad) — vow
- Armenian: խոստում (xostum) — vow
- Asturian: promesa — vow
- Azerbaijani: söz — vow
- Azerbaijani: vəd — vow
- Bangi: elaka — vow
- Bashkir: вәғәҙә (vəğəźə) — vow
- Belarusian: абяца́нне (abjacánnje) — vow
- Belarusian: абяца́ньне (abjacánʹnje) — vow
- Bengali: অঙ্গীকার (oṅgikar) — vow
- Bengali: প্রতিশ্রুতি (protisruti) — vow
- Breton: promesa — vow
- Bulgarian: обеща́ние (obeštánie) — vow
- Burmese: ကတိ (ka.ti.) — vow
- Burmese: ခံဝန်ချက် (hkam-wanhkyak) — vow
- Catalan: promesa — vow
- Chinese Mandarin: 諾言 /诺言 (nuòyán) — vow
- Chinese Mandarin: 答應 /答应 (dāying) — vow
- Chinese Mandarin: 許諾 /许诺 (xǔnuò) — vow
- Chinese Mandarin: 誓言 (shìyán) — vow
- Chinese Mandarin: 承諾 /承诺 (chéngnuò) — vow
- Maore Comorian: wahadi — vow
- Corsican: prumèssa — vow
- Czech: slib — vow
- Danish: løfte — vow
- Dutch: belofte — vow
- Esperanto: promeso — vow
- Estonian: lubadus — vow
- Ewe: ŋugbedodo — vow
- Faroese: eiti — vow
- Faroese: lyfti — vow
- Finnish: lupaus — vow
- French: vœu — vow
- French: promesse — vow
- Gagauz: söz — vow
- Galician: promesa — vow
- Georgian: დაპირება (daṗireba) — vow
- German: Versprechen — vow
- Greek: υπόσχεση (ypóschesi) — vow
- Ancient Greek: ἐπαγγελία (epangelía) — vow
- Ancient Greek: ὑπόσχεσις (hupóskhesis) — vow
- Hebrew: הַבְטָחָה (havtakhá) — vow
- Hebrew: נֶדֶר (néder) — vow
- Hiligaynon: panaad — vow
- Hindi: वचन (vacan) — vow
- Hindi: शपथ (śapath) — vow
- Hindi: वादा (vādā) — vow
- Hindi: सौगन्द (saugand) — vow
- Hindi: प्रतिज्ञा (pratijñā) — vow
- Hindi: प्रण (praṇ) — vow
- Hungarian: ígéret — vow
- Icelandic: loforð — vow
- Interlingua: promissa — vow
- Irish: gealltanas — vow
- Italian: promessa — vow
- Italian: giuramento — vow
- Italian: voto — vow
- Japanese: 約束 (yakusoku) — vow
- Kazakh: уәде (uäde) — vow
- Kazakh: уағда (uağda) — vow
- Khmer: ពាក្យសន្យា (piək sɑnyaa) — vow
- Korean: 약속 (yaksok) — vow
- Central Kurdish: بەڵێن (bellên) — vow
- Northern Kurdish: soz — vow
- Northern Kurdish: ehd — vow
- Northern Kurdish: belên — vow
- Northern Kurdish: newîn — vow
- Northern Kurdish: wad — vow
- Kyrgyz: убада (ubada) — vow
- Lao: ຄໍາສັນຍາ (kham san nyā) — vow
- Latin: prōmissum — vow
- Latin: promissiō — vow
- Latvian: solījums — vow
- Lingala: elaka — vow
- Lithuanian: pažadas — vow
- Low German: Verspriäken — vow
- Luxembourgish: Verspriechen — vow
- Luxembourgish: Verspriechung — vow
- Macedonian: ветување (vetuvanje) — vow
- Malay: janji — vow
- Maltese: wegħda — vow
- Manx: gialdin — vow
- Māori: kupu taurangi — vow
- Mongolian: амлалт (amlalt) — vow
- Muna: dhandi — vow
- Nepali: वचन (vacan) — vow
- Norwegian Bokmål: løfte — vow
- Norwegian Nynorsk: løfte — vow
- Old English: ġehāt — vow
- Pashto: واده (wāda) — vow
- Pashto: وعده (wa'da) — vow
- Pashto: ژمنه (žmᶕna) — vow
- Dari: وَعْدَه (wa'da) — vow
- Dari: قَول (qawl) — vow
- Iranian Persian: وَعْدِه (va'de) — vow
- Iranian Persian: قُول (ġowl) — vow
- Piedmontese: promëssa — vow
- Polish: obietnica — vow
- Portuguese: promessa — vow
- Romanian: promisiune — vow
- Romanian: legământ — vow
- Romanian: făgăduială — vow
- Romanian: făgăduință — vow
- Russian: обеща́ние (obeščánije) — vow
- Russian: по́сул (pósul) — vow
- Sanskrit: प्रतिज्ञा (pratijñā) — vow
- Sanskrit: शपथ (śapatha) — vow
- Sanskrit: वचन (vacana) — vow
- Sanskrit: व्रत (vrata) — vow
- Sanskrit: सत्यवचन (satyavacana) — vow
- Sardinian: promissa — vow
- Scots: behecht — vow
- Scottish Gaelic: gealltanas — vow
- Serbo-Croatian: обећа́ње — vow
- Serbo-Croatian: obećánje — vow
- Sinhalese: පොරොන්දුව (poronduwa) — vow
- Slovak: sľub — vow
- Slovene: obljuba — vow
- Somali: wacad — vow
- Spanish: promesa — vow
- Spanish: promisión — vow
- Swahili: ahadi — vow
- Swedish: löfte — vow
- Tagalog: pangako — vow
- Tajik: ваъда (va'da) — vow
- Tajik: қавл (qavl) — vow
- Tatar: вәгъдә (wäğdä) — vow
- Telugu: ఒట్టు (oṭṭu) — vow
- Thai: สัญญา (sǎn-yaa) — vow
- Tok Pisin: promis — vow
- Turkish: söz — vow
- Turkish: vaat — vow
- Old Anatolian Turkish: سوز (söz) — vow
- Old Anatolian Turkish: وعد (vä'd) — vow
- Ottoman Turkish: وعد (vaʾad) — vow
- Ottoman Turkish: سوز (söz) — vow
- Turkmen: wada — vow
- Turkmen: söz — vow
- Ukrainian: обіця́нка (obicjánka) — vow
- Urdu: وَعْدَہ (va'da) — vow
- Uyghur: ۋەدە (wede) — vow
- Uzbek: vaʼda — vow
- Uzbek: soʻz — vow
- Venetan: inpromésa — vow
- Vietnamese: lời hứa — vow
- Volapük: prom — vow
- Waray-Waray: sa-ad — vow
- Welsh: addewid — vow
- Yiddish: צוזאָג (tsuzog) — vow
- French: promesse — transaction
- Galician: promesa — transaction
- German: Versprechen — transaction
- Italian: promessa — transaction
- Latin: prōmissum — transaction
- Latin: prōmissiō — transaction
- Luxembourgish: Verspriechen — transaction
- Luxembourgish: Verspriechung — transaction
- Navajo: ahaʼdeetʼaah — transaction
- Spanish: promesa — transaction
- Spanish: promisión — transaction
- Afrikaans: belowe — to commit to something
- Albanian: premtoj — to commit to something
- Southern Altai: сӧс берер (sös berer) — to commit to something
- Arabic: وَعَدَ (waʕada) — to commit to something
- Arabic: تَعَهَّدَ (taʕahhada) — to commit to something
- Arabic: وعد (waʕad) — to commit to something
- Arabic: وَعَد (waʕad) — to commit to something
- Armenian: խոստանալ (xostanal) — to commit to something
- Asturian: prometer — to commit to something
- Azerbaijani: vəd vermək — to commit to something
- Azerbaijani: söz vermək — to commit to something
- Azerbaijani: vəd etmək — to commit to something
- Belarusian: абяца́ць (abjacácʹ) — to commit to something
- Belarusian: паабяца́ць (paabjacácʹ) — to commit to something
- Bulgarian: обеща́вам (obeštávam) — to commit to something
- Bulgarian: обеща́я (obeštája) — to commit to something
- Burmese: ဝန်ခံ (wanhkam) — to commit to something
- Burmese: အာမခံ (ama.hkam) — to commit to something
- Catalan: prometre — to commit to something
- Cebuano: saad — to commit to something
- Cherokee: ᎠᏚᎢᏍᏗᎭ (aduisdiha) — to commit to something
- Chinese Mandarin: 諾言 /诺言 (nuòyán) — to commit to something
- Chinese Mandarin: 答應 /答应 (dāying) — to commit to something
- Chinese Mandarin: 許諾 /许诺 (xǔnuò) — to commit to something
- Chinese Mandarin: 承諾 /承诺 (chéngnuò) — to commit to something
- Chinese Mandarin: 保證 /保证 (bǎozhèng) — to commit to something
- Czech: slibovat — to commit to something
- Czech: slíbit — to commit to something
- Danish: love — to commit to something
- Dutch: beloven — to commit to something
- Esperanto: promesi — to commit to something
- Estonian: lubama — to commit to something
- Faroese: lova — to commit to something
- Faroese: geva lyfti — to commit to something
- Finnish: luvata — to commit to something
- French: promettre — to commit to something
- Old French: prometre — to commit to something
- Gagauz: söz vermää — to commit to something
- Gagauz: adamaa — to commit to something
- Galician: prometer — to commit to something
- Georgian: დაპირება (daṗireba) — to commit to something
- German: versprechen — to commit to something
- Greek: υπόσχομαι (ypóschomai) — to commit to something
- Ancient Greek: ὑπισχνέομαι (hupiskhnéomai) — to commit to something
- Ancient Greek: ἐπαγγέλλομαι (epangéllomai) — to commit to something
- Haitian Creole: pwomèt — to commit to something
- Hebrew: הִבְטִיחַ (hivtíakh) — to commit to something
- Hindi: वचन देना (vacan denā) — to commit to something
- Hindi: प्रतिज्ञा (pratijñā) — to commit to something
- Hungarian: ígér — to commit to something
- Hungarian: megígér — to commit to something
- Icelandic: lofa — to commit to something
- Icelandic: heita — to commit to something
- Icelandic: strengja heit — to commit to something
- Ido: promisar — to commit to something
- Indonesian: berjanji — to commit to something
- Indonesian: menjanjikan — to commit to something
- Italian: promettere — to commit to something
- Italian: giurare — to commit to something
- Japanese: 約束する (yakusoku suru) — to commit to something
- Kapampangan: mangaku — to commit to something
- Kazakh: уәде беру (uäde beru) — to commit to something
- Khmer: សន្យា (sɑnyaa) — to commit to something
- Korean: 약속하다 (yaksokhada) — to commit to something
- Middle Korean: 벼기다 (pyekita) — to commit to something
- Central Kurdish: بەڵێندان (bellêndan) — to commit to something
- Kyrgyz: сөз берүү (söz berüü) — to commit to something
- Kyrgyz: убада берүү (ubada berüü) — to commit to something
- Lao: ສັນຍາ (san nyā) — to commit to something
- Lao: ໃຫ້ສັນຍາ (hai san nyā) — to commit to something
- Latin: polliceor — to commit to something
- Latin: prōmittō — to commit to something
- Latin: spondeō — to commit to something
- Latvian: solīt — to commit to something
- Lingala: laka — to commit to something
- Lithuanian: žadėti — to commit to something
- Lü: ᦁᦱᦙᦃᦱᧄᧈ (ʼaamẋaam1) — to commit to something
- Luxembourgish: verspriechen — to commit to something
- Macedonian: ветува (vetuva) — to commit to something
- Malay: berjanji — to commit to something
- Maltese: wegħed — to commit to something
- Mongolian: амлах (amlax) — to commit to something
- Navajo: ádee hazhdidziih — to commit to something
- Nepali: वाचा गर्नु (baca garnu) — to commit to something
- Norman: promettre — to commit to something
- Norwegian Bokmål: love — to commit to something
- Norwegian Nynorsk: lova — to commit to something
- Church Slavic: обѣщати (oběštati) — to commit to something
- Old East Slavic: обѣщати (oběščati) — to commit to something
- Old East Slavic: обѣчати (oběčati) — to commit to something
- Old English: ġehātan — to commit to something
- Persian: قول دادن (qowl dâdan) — to commit to something
- Persian: وعده دادن (va'de dâdan) — to commit to something
- Polish: obiecywać — to commit to something
- Polish: obiecać — to commit to something
- Portuguese: prometer — to commit to something
- Romanian: promite — to commit to something
- Russian: обеща́ть (obeščátʹ) — to commit to something
- Russian: пообеща́ть (poobeščátʹ) — to commit to something
- Sardinian: promìtere — to commit to something
- Serbo-Croatian: обѐћати — to commit to something
- Serbo-Croatian: обећа́вати — to commit to something
- Serbo-Croatian: obèćati — to commit to something
- Serbo-Croatian: obećávati — to commit to something
- Slovak: sľubovať — to commit to something
- Slovak: sľúbiť — to commit to something
- Slovene: obljubiti — to commit to something
- Spanish: prometer — to commit to something
- Swahili: -ahidi — to commit to something
- Swedish: lova — to commit to something
- Tagalog: mangako — to commit to something
- Tajik: ваъда додан (va'da dodan) — to commit to something
- Tajik: қавл додан (qavl dodan) — to commit to something
- Thai: ให้สัญญา (hâi-sǎn-yaa) — to commit to something
- Thai: สัญญา (sǎn-yaa) — to commit to something
- Turkish: söz vermek — to commit to something
- Turkmen: söz bermek — to commit to something
- Ukrainian: обіця́ти (obicjáty) — to commit to something
- Ukrainian: пообіця́ти (poobicjáty) — to commit to something
- Uzbek: vaʻda bermoq — to commit to something
- Vietnamese: hứa — to commit to something
- Volapük: promön — to commit to something
- Welsh: addo — to commit to something
- Yiddish: צוזאָגן (tsuzogn) — to commit to something
- Yoruba: lérí — to commit to something
- Arabic: بَشَّرَ (baššara) — To give grounds for expectation, especially of something good
Real reading context