promise
verb/ˈprɒmɪs/
/ˈprɑːmɪs/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they promise | /ˈprɒmɪs/ /ˈprɑːmɪs/ |
| he / she / it promises | /ˈprɒmɪsɪz/ /ˈprɑːmɪsɪz/ |
| past simple promised | /ˈprɒmɪst/ /ˈprɑːmɪst/ |
| past participle promised | /ˈprɒmɪst/ /ˈprɑːmɪst/ |
| -ing form promising | /ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ/ /ˈprɑːmɪsɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to tell somebody that you will definitely do or not do something, or that something will definitely happen
- ‘We haven't got time to go to the park.’ ‘But you promised!’
- promise to do something The college principal promised to look into the matter.
- ‘Promise not to tell anyone!’ ‘I promise.’
- They arrived at 7.30 as they had promised.
- promise something The government has promised a full investigation into the disaster.
- I'll see what I can do but I can't promise anything.
- promise (that)… The brochure promised (that) the local food would be superb.
- promise somebody (that)… You promised me (that) you’d be home early tonight.
- promise something to somebody He promised the money to his grandchildren.
- promise somebody something He promised his grandchildren the money.
- promise yourself something I've promised myself some fun when the exams are over.
- promise (somebody) + speech ‘I'll be back soon,’ she promised.
More Like This Verbs with two objectsVerbs with two objectsExtra Examples- He repeatedly promised to cut taxes in his campaign.
- I am sending you information on holidays as promised.
- I can definitely promise you that I'll do all I can to help.
- I can't promise I'll be there.
- She promised faithfully that she would come.
- I've promised my old computer to Jane.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- faithfully
- solemnly
- initially
- …
- can
- cannot
- seem to
- …
- to
- as promised
- I can’t promise anything
- [transitive] to make something seem likely to happen; to show signs of something
- it promises to be something It promises to be an exciting few days.
- promise something There were dark clouds overhead promising rain.
Extra Examples- The plan seemed to promise a new beginning.
- It was a disappointing end to a season which had promised so much for the team.
- The new drug promises to bring relief to thousands of asthma sufferers.
More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitivesVerbs usually followed by infinitives
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin promissum ‘something promised’, neuter past participle of promittere ‘put forth, promise’, from pro- ‘forward’ + mittere ‘send’.
Idioms
See promise in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee promise in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishI (can) promise you
- (informal) used as a way of encouraging or warning somebody about something
- I can promise you, you'll have a wonderful time.
- If you don't take my advice, you'll regret it, I promise you.
promise (somebody) the earth/moon/world
- (informal) to make promises that will be impossible to keep
- Politicians promise the earth before an election, but things are different afterwards.
Check pronunciation:
promise