Meaning of "promise" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD PROMISE

From Latin prōmissum a promise, from prōmittere to send forth.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF PROMISE

promise  [ˈprɒmɪs]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF PROMISE

Promise is a verb and can also act as a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb promise in English.

WHAT DOES PROMISE MEAN IN ENGLISH?

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.

Definition of promise in the English dictionary

The first definition of promise in the dictionary is often foll by to; when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive to give an assurance of ; undertake in the future. Other definition of promise is to undertake to give. Promise is also to cause one to expect that in the future one is likely.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO PROMISE

PRESENT

Present

I promise

you promise

he/she/it promises

we promise

you promise

they promise

Present continuous

I am promising

you are promising

he/she/it is promising

we are promising

you are promising

they are promising

Present perfect

I have promised

you have promised

he/she/it has promised

we have promised

you have promised

they have promised

Present perfect continuous

I have been promising

you have been promising

he/she/it has been promising

we have been promising

you have been promising

they have been promising

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I promised

you promised

he/she/it promised

we promised

you promised

they promised

Past continuous

I was promising

you were promising

he/she/it was promising

we were promising

you were promising

they were promising

Past perfect

I had promised

you had promised

he/she/it had promised

we had promised

you had promised

they had promised

Past perfect continuous

I had been promising

you had been promising

he/she/it had been promising

we had been promising

you had been promising

they had been promising

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will promise

you will promise

he/she/it will promise

we will promise

you will promise

they will promise

Future continuous

I will be promising

you will be promising

he/she/it will be promising

we will be promising

you will be promising

they will be promising

Future perfect

I will have promised

you will have promised

he/she/it will have promised

we will have promised

you will have promised

they will have promised

Future perfect continuous

I will have been promising

you will have been promising

he/she/it will have been promising

we will have been promising

you will have been promising

they will have been promising

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would promise

you would promise

he/she/it would promise

we would promise

you would promise

they would promise

Conditional continuous

I would be promising

you would be promising

he/she/it would be promising

we would be promising

you would be promising

they would be promising

Conditional perfect

I would have promise

you would have promise

he/she/it would have promise

we would have promise

you would have promise

they would have promise

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been promising

you would have been promising

he/she/it would have been promising

we would have been promising

you would have been promising

they would have been promising

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you promise
we let´s promise
you promise

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to promise

Past participle

promised

Present Participle

promising

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «PROMISE»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «promise» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of promise

ability · aptitude · assurance · assure · augur · bespeak · betoken · bid fair · bond · capability · capacity · commitment · compact · contract · covenant · engagement · flair · guarantee · oath · pledge · plight · potential · stipulate · swear · take an oath · talent · undertake · undertaking · vouch · vow · warrant · word · word of honour

TRANSLATION OF PROMISE

Find out the translation of promise to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of promise from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «promise» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 允诺
• Translator English - Spanish: promesa
• English: promise
• Translator English - Hindi: वादा
• Translator English - Arabic: وَعَدَ
• Translator English - Russian: обещание
• Translator English - Portuguese: promessa
• Translator English - Bengali: প্রতিশ্রুতি
• Translator English - French: promesse
• Translator English - Malay: Janji
• Translator English - German: Versprechen
• Translator English - Japanese: 約束
• Translator English - Korean: 약속
• Translator English - Javanese: Janji
• Translator English - Vietnamese: lời hứa
• Translator English - Tamil: வாக்குறுதி
• Translator English - Marathi: वचन
• Translator English - Turkish: söz vermek
• Translator English - Italian: promessa
• Translator English - Polish: obietnica
• Translator English - Ukrainian: обіцянка
• Translator English - Romanian: promisiune
• Translator English - Greek: υπόσχεση
• Translator English - Afrikaans: belofte
• Translator English - Swedish: löfte
• Translator English - Norwegian: løfte

10 QUOTES WITH «PROMISE»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word promise.

1

Freema Agyeman

I love hotels for their solitude and comfort, but I believe a seedy one can have as much promise as a plush one.

2

William Henry Ashley

The weather was fine, the valleys literally covered with buffaloe, and everything seemed to promise a safe and speedy movement to the first grove of timber on my route, supposed to be about ten days' march.

3

Ali Babacan

The E.U. initially decided to end the isolation of Turkish Cyprus, to balance the accession of Cyprus. But the E.U. has not carried through on its promise.

4

William Bennett

It is our character that supports the promise of our future - far more than particular government programs or policies.

5

Louis D. Brandeis

In the frank expression of conflicting opinions lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action.

6

Adam Braun

Made with Pencils is grounded in the creativity of a few, propelled by the financial support of many, and most importantly, it's empowering generations to come. A simple idea, a heartfelt desire, and a world of possibility. A pencil, a promise, and a dream.

7

Gordon Brown

America knows it has got to deal with its deficit problems so that it, too, can promise it is making its proper and best contributions to the world economy.

8

Leo Buscaglia

Love always creates, it never destroys. In this lies man's only promise.

9

David Cone

The owners said that they wanted the salary cap and refused to promise that they would abide by the rules of the just-expired contract after the season ended. Believing we had no choice, the players went on strike in August of 1994.

10

Joseph Conrad

Truth of a modest sort I can promise you, and also sincerity. That complete, praiseworthy sincerity which, while it delivers one into the hands of one's enemies, is as likely as not to embroil one with one's friends.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «PROMISE»

Discover the use of promise in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to promise and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

The Promise of Happiness

Ahmed maintains that happiness is a promise that directs us toward certain life choices and away from others. Happiness is promised to those willing to live their lives in the right way.

Sara Ahmed, 2010

A Final Promise: The Campaign to Assimilate the Indians, ...

"This is an important book.

Frederick E. Hoxie, 2001

The Jesus Person Pocket Promise Book: 800 Promises from the ...

800 promises from the Word of God with biblical answers to most every spiritual and personal problem encountered today. The promises are categorized to speak to specific situations for quick reference.

David Wilkerson, 1994

A Promise Is a Promise:

When Allashua disobeys her parents and goes fishing on the sea ice, she has to use her wits to escape and to further trick the Qallupilluit when she promises to bring her brothers and sisters back to them.

Robert Munsch, Michael Kusugak, 2013

A Promise Is a Promise: An Almost Unbelievable Story of a ...

This is a book you will always remember - about a mother and daughter whose bond of love is everlasting!

Wayne W. Dyer, 2009

Contract as Promise

This book displays the underlying structure of a complex body of law and integrates that structure with moral principles.

Charles Fried, 2009

Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy

Looks at the political, economic, and cultural history of the Weimar Republic. "This is not another standard history of the Weimar Republic.

Eric D. Weitz, 2007

I Promise...

Thirty-two years of his life went by living with the dead. But then somebody's presence changed everything about his existence, for good or for worse? Let us have you decide the same... I promise . . . brings Raghunath's life to a question.

Tahira Kashyap, 2011

The Promise of the New South : Life After Reconstruction: ...

In this story, with its blend of new technology and old hatreds, genteel picnics and mob violence, Edward Ayers captures the history of the South in the years between Reconstruction and the turn of the century.

College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Edward L. Ayers Dean, and Hugh P. Kelley Professor of History University of Virginia, 2007

The 4400: Welcome to Promise City

Based on the hit USA Network series The 4400, an original novel about a group of 4400 people taken out of their time and returned to the present day with special powers, only no one, including them, is sure if they are a force for good...or ...

Greg Cox, 2009

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «PROMISE»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term promise is used in the context of the following news items.

Will Hillary's 'Half A Billion Solar Panels' Promise Send Billions To …

Hillary Clinton's newest campaign promise to install half a billion solar panels across the country has been praised by liberal media outlets and ... «Daily Caller, Jul 15»

Home ownership is an 'empty promise' as house prices in England …

The Prime Minister's election placard promising 'a home of your own' is on the verge of becoming an empty promise. The only way for the ... «Telegraph.co.uk, Jul 15»

Newspaper ownership: political influence trumps the promise of profits

Newspaper ownership: political influence trumps the promise of profits. July 28, 2015 12.24am EDT. Anton Harber ... «The Conversation AU, Jul 15»

Thousands Of Students At Risk Of Not Qualifying For TN Promise …

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Eight hours of community service could keep thousands of students from receiving the Tennessee Promise scholarship. «NewsChannel5.com, Jul 15»

Ex-Senator, Troubled Airline Promise Unalaskans Improved Service

Former Senator Mark Begich, his former Senate staffer Schawna Thoma and Grant Aviation president Bob Lowrance in Unalaska. (Photo by ... «Alaska Public Radio Network, Jul 15»

Deadline for Cuesta College's Promise Scholarship approaching

Recent San Luis Obispo County high school graduates have until Aug. 3 to apply for Cuesta College's Promise Scholarship offering a fee-free ... «The San Luis Obispo Tribune, Jul 15»

Flying high at LaGuardia airport

The design and promise of a modern Flushing airport with connected terminals and public transportation is, for today, just a design and promise ... «Newsday, Jul 15»

Vacation and Horrible Bosses writers set to pen new Spider-Man …

Vacation and Horrible Bosses writers set to pen new Spider-Man - promise he's funny. Tuesday, July 28, 2015 - 07:30 AM. In case you hadn't heard (and really ... «Irish Examiner, Jul 15»

TEST: Child trackers that promise to help protect your child

Big crowds can make it difficult for parents to keep up with their children, especially when that child wanders off. Cleveland Love was with his ... «KATV, Jul 15»

World Champs 10K Runner Emily Infeld Fulfills Early Promise

After the run, Flanagan told her, “I promise you, you're going to feel better running the 10K [at the U.S. championships] than you did during that ... «Runner's World Newswire, Jul 15»