1. Showing possibility of achievement or excellence
   "a promising young man"
    
2. Likely to turn out well in the future
   "the scandal threatened an abrupt end to a promising political career";
   - bright, hopeful

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"

See also: auspicious, likely

Type of: bespeak, betoken [archaic], declare, guess, hazard, indicate, point, pretend, pronounce, signal, venture

Encyclopedia: Promise, South Dakota