English Dictionary | Video | Thesaurus | School | Translator | Grammar | Scrabble | Blog
Sign Up | Log In
 
English
Menu
English Dictionary Video Thesaurus School Translator Grammar Scrabble Blog Sign Up Log In

Definition of 'pledge'

Word Frequency

pledge

(pledʒ )
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense pledges , present participle pledging , past tense, past participle pledged
1. countable noun [usually NOUN to-infinitive]
When someone makes a pledge, they make a serious promise that they will do something.
The meeting ended with a pledge to step up cooperation between the six states of the region.
...a £1.1m pledge of support from the Spanish ministry of culture. [+ of]
Synonyms: promise, vow, assurance, word   More Synonyms of pledge
2. verb
When someone pledges to do something, they promise in a serious way to do it. When they pledge something, they promise to give it.
Mr Dudley has pledged to give any award to charity. [VERB to-infinitive]
Philip pledges support and offers to help in any way that he can. [VERB noun]
I pledge that by next year we will have the problem solved. [VERB that]
Synonyms: promise, vow, vouch, swear   More Synonyms of pledge
3. verb
If you pledge a sum of money to an organization or activity, you promise to pay that amount of money to it at a particular time or over a particular period.
The French President is pledging $150 million in French aid next year. [VERB noun]
The government has now pledged £170m over the next six years for improving primary care. [VERB noun]
Pledge is also a noun.
...a pledge of forty-two million dollars a month. [+ of]
4. verb
If you pledge yourself to something, you commit yourself to following a particular course of action or to supporting a particular person, group, or idea.
He has pledged himself to assist Mr. Williams with money. [VERB pronoun-reflexive to-infinitive]
He has pledged himself to Everton Football Club for another three years. [V pron-refl to n]
The treaties renounce the use of force and pledge the two countries to co-operation. [VERB noun + to]
5. verb
If you pledge something such as a valuable possession or a sum of money, you leave it with someone as a guarantee that you will repay money that you have borrowed.
He asked her to pledge the house as security for a loan. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: bind, guarantee, mortgage, engage   More Synonyms of pledge
More Synonyms of pledge
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'pledge'

Word Frequency

pledge in British

(plɛdʒ )
noun
1. 
a formal or solemn promise or agreement, esp to do or refrain from doing something
2. 
a. 
collateral for the payment of a debt or the performance of an obligation
b. 
the condition of being collateral (esp in the phrase in pledge)
3. 
a sign, token, or indication
the gift is a pledge of their sincerity
4. 
an assurance of support or goodwill, conveyed by drinking to a person, cause, etc; toast
we drank a pledge to their success
5. 
a person who binds himself or herself, as by becoming bail or surety for another
6.  sign the pledge
verb
7. 
to promise formally or solemnly
he pledged allegiance
8. (transitive)
to bind or secure by or as if by a pledge
they were pledged to secrecy
9. 
to give, deposit, or offer (one's word, freedom, property, etc) as a guarantee, as for the repayment of a loan
10. 
to drink a toast to (a person, cause, etc)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
pledgable (ˈpledgable) or pledgeable (ˈpledgeable)
adjective
Word origin of 'pledge'
C14: from Old French plege, from Late Latin plebium gage, security, from plebīre to pledge, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German pflegan to look after, care for
Word Frequency

pledge in American

(plɛdʒ ; plej)
noun
1. 
the condition of being given or held as security for a contract, payment, etc.
a thing held in pledge
2. 
a person or thing given or held as security for the performance of a contract, as a guarantee of faith, etc.; something pawned; hostage
3. 
a token or earnest
4. 
a drinking to someone's health to express good will or allegiance; toast
5. 
a promise or agreement
6. 
something promised, esp. money to be contributed in regular payments
7.  US
a person undergoing a trial period before formal initiation into a fraternity, sorority, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: pledged or ˈpledging
8. 
to present as security or guarantee, esp. for the repayment of a loan; pawn
9. 
to drink a toast to
10. 
to bind by a promise or agreement
11. 
to promise to give
to pledge allegiance, pledge money to a fund
12.  US
a. 
to accept tentative membership in (a fraternity, etc.)
b. 
to accept as a pledge (sense 7)
Idioms:
take the pledge
SYNONYMY NOTE: pledge applies to anything given as security for the performance of an act or contract or for the payment of a debt [he gave her a ring as a pledge]; earnest2, in current usage, applies to anything given or done as an indication, promise, or assurance of more to follow [her early triumphs are an earnest of her success]; token is used of anything serving or given as evidence of authority, genuineness, good faith, etc. [this watch is a token of our gratitude]; pawn1 now usually refers to an article left as security for the money lent on it by a pawnbroker; , hostage is applied to a person handed over as a pledge for the fulfillment of certain terms or one seized and kept to force others to comply with demands
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'pledge'
ME plegge < OFr pleige < ML plegium < plevium, security, warranty, infl. by Frank *pligi, liability; akin to OS plegan, to warrant

Example sentences containing 'pledge'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Greece had secured support for an international bailout by pledging to cut spending. Times, Sunday Times (2016)But this month she backed down from a pledge to give workers a boardroom seat. The Sun (2016)Investors will then be invited to pledge money at a discount. Times, Sunday Times (2016)She also pledged to fight for them to be paid on time by bigger companies. The Sun (2017)We pledge our lasting support to this most special relationship. Times, Sunday Times (2017)Reckless pledge The only sign of a policy in the speech. Times, Sunday Times (2016)It comes despite a Government pledge to cap fees where patient damages are under 100,000. The Sun (2016)Ministers will pledge to invest in digital, energy, construction and transport infrastructure for each region. Times, Sunday Times (2017)The question is whether Mrs May can change the weather and make good her pledge to be a robust free trade champion. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Britain will pledge 20 million over the next four years to manage and enforce the new reserves, which will be known as marine protected areas. Times, Sunday Times (2016)How will that square with your pledge to cut immigration? The Sun (2014)They made a solemn pledge in their election manifesto that they would not raise income tax. The Sun (2009)The money had been pledged for the sound system in the worship auditorium. Christianity Today (2000)She was released after reportedly signing a pledge not to do it again or speak publicly. The Sun (2011)Reconstruction of the city is also a key pledge. Times, Sunday Times (2009)You could take your little pledge card and promise them the moon. Times, Sunday Times (2014)What is the difference between pledges and guarantees? Times, Sunday Times (2010)He has already pledged to cut tax credits for wealthier families. The Sun (2010)Half the money has been pledged by the government. Times, Sunday Times (2011)He is also expected to pledge to lower the income tax threshold. Times, Sunday Times (2010)But it seems their other halves are no longer the only people they make a pledge of loyalty to. The Sun (2013)The covenant was launched two years ago as a way for businesses to publicly pledge support for servicemen and women. The Sun (2015)The clubs recently pledged to give 1bn to external organisations but that included funding for lower leagues. Times, Sunday Times (2015)He will set out six key healthcare pledges Labour will deliver if it wins the election. The Sun (2015)Athens announced deeper cuts yesterday and pledged to step up its privatisation programme in the face of intense pressure from its government lenders. Times, Sunday Times (2011)Then comes yet another stage: pledging to do things differently next time. Times, Sunday Times (2010)We'll ensure he keeps that solemn pledge. The Sun (2010)This cash is in addition to the 200 million pledged by the four banks over the next two years. Times, Sunday Times (2011)The Government has pledged 2 million so far to cope with the impact. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Their efforts led to the British Government last month pledging to step up its efforts to get it banned worldwide. The Sun (2015)But given that the President has pledged the same before, it remains to be seen whether this will yield results. Times, Sunday Times (2011)It confirmed last week that anyone who redeemed a loan before this pledge, and when the fee was lower, could have the difference refunded. Times, Sunday Times (2007)

Trends of 'pledge'

In Common Usage. pledge is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Translations for 'pledge'

British English: pledge NOUN
When someone makes a pledge, they make a serious promise that they will do something.
The meeting ended with a pledge to step up cooperation between the six states of the region.
  • American English: pledge
  • Brazilian Portuguese: promessa
  • Chinese: 誓言
  • European Spanish: promesa
  • French: promesse
  • German: Versprechen
  • Italian: impegno
  • Japanese: 誓約
  • Korean: 서약
  • European Portuguese: promessa
  • Spanish: compromiso
British English: pledge VERB
When someone pledges to do something, they promise in a serious way to do it.
He has pledged to give any award to charity.
  • American English: pledge
  • Brazilian Portuguese: empenhar
  • Chinese: 发誓
  • European Spanish: prometer
  • French: promettre
  • German: versprechen
  • Italian: impegnarsi
  • Japanese: 誓約する
  • Korean: 맹세하다
  • European Portuguese: empenhar
  • Spanish: prometer

Translate your text for free

Nearby words of 'pledge'

  • plectron
  • plectrum
  • pled
  • pledge
  • Pledge of Allegiance
  • pledgeable
  • pledged delegate

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'P'

Related Terms of 'pledge'

  • sign the pledge
  • take the pledge
  • Pledge of Allegiance

Source

Definition of pledge from the Collins English Dictionary

The to infinitive

The to infinitive is used as follows: after an adjective of quality such as small, tall, agreeable, pleasant, funny that is used in combination with too. The child was too small to reach the sw...
Read more about 'The to infinitive'
Word of the day:
Louis Quinze
of or relating to the rococo style of the furniture , decoration , and architecture of the time of Louis XV of France
See full definition
Feb 15, 2019
New collocations added to dictionary
Collocations are words that are often used together and are brilliant at providing natural sounding language for your speech and writing.
Read more
Unlock language with the Paul Noble method
No books. No rote memorization. No chance of failure. Your chance to have a one-to-one lesson with best-selling language expert Paul Noble, try a FREE audio sample of his brand new Mandarin Chinese course.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots! Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
13th edition of the Collins Dictionary out now!
Updated with all the very latest new words and senses, this new 13th edition is an unparalleled resource for word lovers, word gamers, and word geeks everywhere. #homeoflivingenglish
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Scrabble score for 'pledge': 10
Latest Word Submissions
hidden disability Feb 15, 2019
shotgun (beer) Feb 15, 2019
BTW Feb 15, 2019
lewk Feb 13, 2019
put oneself down Feb 12, 2019
Submit View More
Create an account and sign in to access this FREE content
Register now or login in to access
Browse the English Dictionary
  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
View all dictionaries...
  • View more
  • API
  • B2B Partnerships
  • Advertising
  • Word Banks
  • Collins COBUILD
  • Collins ELT
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact us
  • Languages
  • English
  • Video
  • Thesaurus
  • Grammar
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Chinese
  • Portuguese
  • Hindi
  • Word of the Year
  • Scrabble
  • The Paul Noble Method
  • Resources
  • School
  • This page in
  • English
  • American
  • Italiano
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Português
  • हिंदी
  • 简体中文
© Collins 2019