pledgenoun [ C ]
uk/pledʒ/us/pledʒ/a serious or formal promise, especially one to give money or to be a friend, or something that you give as a sign that you will keep a promise:
[ + to infinitive ] All the candidates have given/made pledges not to raise taxes if they are elected.
Thousands of people made pledges (= promised to give money) to the charity campaign.
I give you this ring as a pledge of my everlasting love for you.
More examples
- The couple will exchange rings as a pledge of their love for one another.
- We've received pledges of more than ten thousand pounds to help pay for repairs to the church.
- You can go online to make a pledge to the disaster relief fund.
- The government has made a pledge never to make deals with terrorists.
- Godparents make a pledge of support to the child's parents.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making & breaking promises & commitments
- betray
- broken
- commit
- cross my heart (and hope to die) idiom
- deliver
- fink
- fink out
- go back on sth
- guarantee
- New Year's resolution
- promise sb the earth/moon idiom
- promises, promises! idiom
- redeem
- resolution
- swear
- sworn
- vouch
- warrant
- warranty
- welsh
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Idiom(s)
take/sign the pledge
pledgeverb [ T ]
uk/pledʒ/us/pledʒ/to make a serious or formal promise to give or do something:
We are asking people to pledge their support for our campaign.
If you join the armed forces, you have to pledge allegiance to your country.
So far, £50,000 has been pledged (= people have promised to pay this amount) in response to the appeal.
[ + to infinitive ] Both sides have pledged to end the fighting.
I've been pledged to secrecy.
More examples
- The government has pledged to reduce the amount of chemicals used in food production.
- The president pledged to respect the existing frontiers between the two countries.
- He pledged undying love/loyalty.
- The minister has pledged his whole-hearted support for the scheme.
- Both Britain and the United States are pledging their support for the campaign.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making & breaking promises & commitments
- betray
- broken
- commit
- cross my heart (and hope to die) idiom
- deliver
- fink
- fink out
- go back on sth
- guarantee
- New Year's resolution
- promise sb the earth/moon idiom
- promises, promises! idiom
- redeem
- resolution
- swear
- sworn
- vouch
- warrant
- warranty
- welsh
See more results »