1. A verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
   "He made a promise to return the borrowed book by next week"
    
2. Grounds for feeling hopeful about the future
   "there is little or no promise that he will recover";
   - hope

1. Make a commitment to do (or not to do) something in the future
   "He promised to finish the project by the deadline";
   - assure
    
2. Commit to undertake or give
   "I promise you my best effort"
    
3. Make a prediction about; tell in advance
   "The weather forecast promised rain";
   - predict, foretell, prognosticate, call, forebode, anticipate
    
4. Give grounds for expectations
   "The new results were promising"; "The results promised fame and glory"

Derived forms: promises, promising, promised

Type of: bespeak, betoken [archaic], commitment, declare, dedication, expectation, guess, hazard, indicate, outlook, point, pretend, pronounce, prospect, signal, speech act, venture

Encyclopedia: Promise, South Dakota