promise

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈpɹɑmɪs/ UK /ˈpɹɒmɪs/ See IPA manual

Freq #558

Meanings

1

verb
To say firmly that you will definitely do something.

She promised to call me as soon as she arrived.
2

noun
A firm statement that you will definitely do something.

When I make a promise, I always keep it.
3

noun
A sign that someone or something could be successful in the future.

The young player showed great promise.

Verb forms

promise, promised, promised

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a firm statement that you... vow

3 noun · a sign that someone or... potential hope

More stipulate

Word family

Derived forms break-promiseforepromisemispromiseoutpromiseoverpromiseprepromisepromisablepromisefulpromiselesspromiserrepromiseunderpromise

Related forms promisedpromiseepromisingpromisorpromissory

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

illusory promise
an apparent assurance or prospect that is misleading or unlikely to be fulfilled

Adjective + noun

Proverbs (4)

See all

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”).

*mey- (change) Proto-Indo-European promis Middle English promesse Old French prōmissa la-med prōmissum Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# promise

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɹɑmɪs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɹɒmɪs/
**Frequency rank:** 558

## Meanings
1. To say firmly that you will definitely do something.
2. A firm statement that you will definitely do something.
3. A sign that someone or something could be successful in the future.

## Examples
- She promised to call me as soon as she arrived.
- When I make a promise, I always keep it.
- The young player showed great promise.

## Synonyms
- stipulate

## Derived Forms
- break-promise
- forepromise
- mispromise
- outpromise
- overpromise
- prepromise
- promisable
- promiseful
- promiseless
- promiser
- repromise
- underpromise

## Related Forms
- promised
- promisee
- promising
- promisor
- promissory

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *mey- (change)
- Root: promis
- Root: promesse
- Root: prōmissa
- Root: prōmissum

## 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”).

## AI Etymology
Promise comes 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”). In present-day English it covers to say firmly that you will definitely do something, a firm statement that you will definitely do something, and a sign that someone or something could be successful in the future. The wider family includes derived forms such as break-promise, forepromise, mispromise, outpromise, overpromise and related forms such as promised, promisee, promising, promisor.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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