prom·ise (pr?m??s)n.1. a. A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something; a vow.b. Something promised.2. Indication of something favorable to come; expectation: a promise of spring in the air.3. Indication of future excellence or success: a player of great promise.v. prom·ised, prom·is·ing, prom·is·es v.tr.1. To commit oneself by a promise to do or give; pledge: left but promised to return.2. To afford a basis for expecting: thunderclouds that promise rain.v.intr.1. To make a declaration assuring that something will or will not be done.2. To afford a basis for expectation: an enterprise that promises well.[Middle English promis, from Old French promise, from Medieval Latin pr?missa, alteration of Latin pr?missum, from neuter past participle of pr?mittere, to send forth, promise : pr?-, forth; see pro-1 + mittere, to send.]prom?is·er n.Synonyms: promise, pledge, swear, vow1 These verbs mean to declare solemnly that one will follow a particular course of action: promises to write soon; pledged to uphold the law; swore to get revenge; vowed to fight to the finish.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.promise (?pr?m?s) vb1. (often foll by: to; when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to give an assurance of (something to someone); undertake (to do something) in the future: I promise that I will come. 2. (tr) to undertake to give (something to someone): he promised me a car for my birthday. 3. (when tr, takes an infinitive) to cause one to expect that in the future one is likely (to be or do something): she promises to be a fine soprano. 4. (usually passive) to engage to be married; betroth: I’m promised to Bill. 5. (tr) to assure (someone) of the authenticity or inevitability of something (often in the parenthetic phrase I promise you, used to emphasize a statement): there’ll be trouble, I promise you. n6. an undertaking or assurance given by one person to another agreeing or guaranteeing to do or give something, or not to do or give something, in the future7. indication of forthcoming excellence or goodness: a writer showing considerable promise. 8. the thing of which an assurance is given[C14: from Latin pr?missum a promise, from pr?mittere to send forth] ?promiser nCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014prom?ise (?pr?m ?s) n., v. -ised, -is?ing. n. 1. a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc: He kept his promise to write regularly. 2. indication of future excellence or achievement: a writer who shows promise. 3. something that is promised. v.t. 4. to pledge or undertake by promise (usu. with an infinitive or a clause as object): She promised to visit us. 5. to make a promise of (some specified act, gift, etc.): to promise help. 6. to afford ground for expecting: The sky promises a storm. 7. to engage to join in marriage. 8. to assure (used in emphatic declarations): I won’t go there again, I promise you! v.i. 9. to make a promise. 10. to afford ground for expectation (often fol. by well or fair). [1375?1425; late Middle English promis(se)