pledge
a solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something: a pledge of aid;a pledge not to wage war.
something delivered as security for the payment of a debt or fulfillment of a promise, and subject to forfeiture on failure to pay or fulfill the promise.
the state of being given or held as security: to put a thing in pledge.
Law.
the act of delivering goods, property, etc., to another for security.
the resulting legal relationship.
something given or regarded as a security.
a person accepted for membership in a club, fraternity, or sorority, but not yet formally approved.
an assurance of support or goodwill conveyed by drinking a person's health; a toast.
Obsolete.
a hostage.
a person who becomes bail or surety for another.
to bind by or as if by a pledge: to pledge hearers to secrecy.
to promise solemnly: to pledge one's support.
to give or deposit as a pledge; pawn.
to stake, as one's honor.
to secure by a pledge; give a pledge for.
to accept as a pledge for club, fraternity, or sorority membership.
to drink a health or toast to.
to make or give a pledge: to pledge for someone.
to drink a pledge; toast someone's health, success, etc.
Idioms about pledge
take the pledge, to make a solemn, formal vow to abstain from intoxicating drink.
Origin of pledge
1Other words for pledge
Other words from pledge
- pledge·a·ble, adjective
- pledger, noun
- pledgeless, adjective
- in·ter·pledge, verb (used with object), in·ter·pledged, in·ter·pledg·ing.
- pre·pledge, verb (used with object), pre·pledged, pre·pledg·ing; noun
- quasi-pledge, verb, qua·si-pledged, qua·si-pledg·ing.
- re·pledge, verb (used with object), re·pledged, re·pledg·ing, noun
- un·pledged, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use pledge in a sentence
To those who agreed with him, Bush pledged that the law against same-sex marriage would remain intact.
President Obama pledged an estimated $175 million and sent more than 4,000 troops to help the region regain its footing.
Jail Threats for Sierra Leone Ebola Victims’ Families | Abby Haglage | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAlmost every country present pledged to either adopt a church or rebuild a school.
Madonna, Carla Bruni & Obama Abandoned Pledges To Rebuild L'Aquila After The Quake | Barbie Latza Nadeau | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAlmost six years after the deadly quake, little of the money pledged to rebuild the broken city has been anted up.
Madonna, Carla Bruni & Obama Abandoned Pledges To Rebuild L'Aquila After The Quake | Barbie Latza Nadeau | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe pledged that governance is going to be a key focus of the Republican Senate.
As if abstractedly, he now took up the beaker, pledged madame with his glance, and drank.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniIn former transactions with his wife, he had pledged his word of honour to repay her.
The king heartily pledged him, thanked him for his good cheer, and departed undiscovered.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousMany questions have arisen between pledgors and pledgees about their rights to vote the pledged stock.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesSahib, they did not hesitate; one and all pledged themselves to follow me, and die with me should it be their fate.
Confessions of a Thug | Philip Meadows Taylor
British Dictionary definitions for pledge
/ (plɛdʒ) /
a formal or solemn promise or agreement, esp to do or refrain from doing something
collateral for the payment of a debt or the performance of an obligation
the condition of being collateral (esp in the phrase in pledge)
a sign, token, or indication: the gift is a pledge of their sincerity
an assurance of support or goodwill, conveyed by drinking to a person, cause, etc; toast: we drank a pledge to their success
a person who binds himself, as by becoming bail or surety for another
sign the pledge or take the pledge to make a vow to abstain from alcoholic drink
to promise formally or solemnly: he pledged allegiance
(tr) to bind or secure by or as if by a pledge: they were pledged to secrecy
to give, deposit, or offer (one's word, freedom, property, etc) as a guarantee, as for the repayment of a loan
to drink a toast to (a person, cause, etc)
Origin of pledge
1Derived forms of pledge
- pledgable, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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