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.
verb (used with object),pledged,pledg·ing.
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.
verb (used without object),pledged,pledg·ing.
to make or give a pledge: to pledge for someone.
to drink a pledge; toast someone's health, success, etc.
Idioms for pledge
take the pledge, to make a solemn, formal vow to abstain from intoxicating drink.
Origin of pledge
1275–1325; Middle English plege<Anglo-French <early Medieval Latin plevium,plebium, derivative of plebīre to pledge <Germanic; compare Old English plēon to risk, German pflegen to look after. See plight2
SYNONYMS FOR pledge
2 warranty, surety, guaranty.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR pledge ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM pledge
pledge·a·ble,adjectivepledger,nounpledgeless,adjectivein·ter·pledge,verb (used with object),in·ter·pledged,in·ter·pledg·ing.
pre·pledge,verb (used with object),pre·pledged,pre·pledg·ing;nounquasi-pledge,verb,qua·si-pledged,qua·si-pledg·ing.re·pledge,verb (used with object),re·pledged,re·pledg·ing,nounun·pledged,adjective
Two days after China’s announcement on export controls, ByteDance issued a contrite pledge to “strictly follow” the new rules.
How Trump’s TikTok ban pushed China’s most independent tech billionaire closer to Beijing|claychandler|September 10, 2020|Fortune
As lots of companies make pledges and commitments, people fear this will be another hot news cycle, and the conversation about race in corporate America is going to die off.
Can They Redefine the C-Suite as the B-Suite?|Nick Fouriezos|September 8, 2020|Ozy
That’s the question employees inside media companies are starting to ask about their employers’ diversity and inclusion pledges.
‘Feels very much lip service’: Media employees agitate over companies’ inaction following diversity and inclusion pledges|Tim Peterson|August 31, 2020|Digiday
Oxford backed off from its open-license pledge after the Gates Foundation urged it to find a big-company partner to get its vaccine to market.
Oxford’s COVID vaccine deal with AstraZeneca raises concerns about access and pricing|lbelanger225|August 24, 2020|Fortune
The pledge made last year was for the long term, as the business leaders committed to “the future success of our companies, our communities, and our country.”
Why a year later, the Business Roundtable’s updated statement of purpose is more relevant than ever|jakemeth|August 19, 2020|Fortune
“It is our Islamic obligation to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State and give it our Islamic fealty,” he said.
ISIS Targets Afghanistan Just as the U.S. Quits|Sami Yousafzai, Christopher Dickey|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I pledge to conduct a full and fair investigation and to give the grand jury all of the information necessary to do its job.
New York's Next Killer-Cop Grand Jury|Jacob Siegel|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And with new leadership in Washington we will stand together and pledge to listen to the American people.
In Texas, Cruz, Perry Crow Over GOP Rout|Tim Mak|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Voters fill out their name, address, phone number and sign a pledge that they will “commit to vote.”
The Democrats’ Simple Midterm Weapon|Ben Jacobs|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Four years later, more than 125 billionaires took the pledge, including Zuckerberg.
How Does Zuckerberg’s Ebola Pledge Measure Up To Other Bigwig Donations?|Nina Strochlic|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Send to Harold mildly, and gently remind him of oath and of relics—of treaty and pledge.
Harold, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton
On seeking re-election in York, he declined to give any pledge on the burning question of the Clergy Reserves and was defeated.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2|Various
No; he breaks this one treasure in two, that both the poor things may have a silver token of love and a pledge of his return.
Love Me Little, Love Me Long|Charles Reade
The Mary-Anne societies are not strong enough for the situation—too local; he listens to them, but he has given no pledge.
Lothair|Benjamin Disraeli
I have had to pledge the last pearl of the chaplet, but I knew that Meg would redeem it.'
Stray Pearls|Charlotte M. Yonge
British Dictionary definitions for pledge
pledge
/ (plɛdʒ) /
noun
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 indicationthe gift is a pledge of their sincerity
an assurance of support or goodwill, conveyed by drinking to a person, cause, etc; toastwe drank a pledge to their success
a person who binds himself, as by becoming bail or surety for another
sign the pledgeortake the pledgeto make a vow to abstain from alcoholic drink
verb
to promise formally or solemnlyhe pledged allegiance
(tr)to bind or secure by or as if by a pledgethey 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)
Derived forms of pledge
pledgable, adjective
Word Origin for 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