- (a.) In general, a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it to do or to forbear to do, a specified act; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.
- (v.t.) To afford reason to expect; to cause hope or assurance of; as, the clouds promise rain.
- (v.t.) To make declaration of or give assurance of, as some benefit to be conferred; to pledge or engage to bestow; as, the proprietors promised large tracts of land; the city promised a reward.
- (a.) Bestowal, fulfillment or grant of what is promised.
- (a.) That which causes hope, expectation or assurance; especially, that which affords expectation of future distinction; as, a youth of great promise.
- (v.i.) To give assurance by a promise or binding declaration.
- (a.) An engagement by one person to another, either in words or in writing, but properly not under seal, for the performance or nonperformance of some particular thing. The word promise is used to denote the mere engagement of a person, without regard to the consideration for it or the corresponding duty of the party to whom it is made.
- (v.i.) To afford hopes or expectation; to give ground to expect good; rarely, to give reason to expect evil.
- (v.t.) To engage to do, give, make or to refrain from doing, giving or making or the like; to covenant; to engage; as, to promise a visit; to promise a cessation of hostilities; to promise the payment of money.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). promise. Retrieved September 25, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/promise/definitions/2049765 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "promise" http://smartdefine.org/promise/definitions/2049765 (accessed September 25, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, promise, Smart Define, viewed 25 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/promise/definitions/2049765>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "promise" 27 May 2011. Web. 25 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/promise/definitions/2049765> |