pledge

/plɛdʒ/

/plɛdʒ/

Other forms: pledged; pledges; pledging

A pledge is basically very serious formal promise. You can pledge allegiance to your country, you can pledge to keep a secret, and you can pledge a sum of money to a cause.

Pledge can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it can be a solemn promise you've made. Or even the person who makes that promise, like the freshman pledges who take an oath to join a fraternity in college. As a verb, it describes the act of promising. “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people,” vowed Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States.

Definitions of pledge

1. noun

   a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something
   “signed a pledge never to reveal the secret”

   synonyms: assurance

   types:

   guarantee, warrant, warrantee, warranty

   a written assurance that some product or service will be provided or will meet certain specifications

   guarantee

   an unconditional commitment that something will happen or that something is true

   plight, troth

   a solemn pledge of fidelity

   vow

   a solemn pledge (to oneself or to another or to a deity) to do something or to behave in a certain manner

   security, surety

   a guarantee that an obligation will be met

   deposit

   a payment given as a guarantee that an obligation will be met

   stock warrant

   a written certificate that gives the holder the right to purchase shares of a stock for a specified price within a specified period of time

   safety net

   a guarantee of professional or financial security

   full faith and credit

   a guarantee to pay interest and principal on debt; usually issued by the United States Treasury

   type of:

   commitment, dedication

   a message that makes a pledge
2. noun

   someone accepted for membership but not yet fully admitted to the group
   type of:

   fellow member, member

   one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
3. verb

   promise solemnly and formally
   “I pledge that I will honor my wife”

   synonyms: plight

   types:

   vow

   make a vow; promise

   guarantee, vouch

   give surety or assume responsibility

   covenant

   enter into a covenant or formal agreement

   covenant

   enter into a covenant

   commune, communicate

   receive Communion, in the Catholic church

   affiance, betroth, engage, plight

   give to in marriage

   profess

   take vows, as in religious order

   swear

   promise solemnly; take an oath

   bail

   secure the release of (someone) by providing security

   stipulate

   give a guarantee or promise of

   communicate

   administer Communion; in church

   secure

   assure payment of

   confirm

   administer the rite of confirmation to

   bar mitzvah

   confirm in the bar mitzvah ceremony, of boys in the Jewish faith

   bat mitzvah

   confirm in the bat mitzvah ceremony, of girls in the Jewish faith

   type of:

   assure, promise

   make a promise or commitment
4. verb

   bind or secure by a pledge
   “I was pledged to silence”

   type of:

   bind, hold, obligate, oblige

   bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted
5. noun

   a deposit of personal property as security for a debt
   “his saxophone was in pledge”

   types:

   pawn

   an article deposited as security

   type of:

   security interest

   any interest in a property that secures the payment of an obligation
6. verb

   give as a guarantee
   “I pledge my honor”

   types:

   collateralize

   pledge as a collateral

   give

   offer in good faith

   hypothecate

   pledge without delivery or title of possession

   type of:

   charge, consign

   give over to another for care or safekeeping
7. noun

   a drink in honor of or to the health of a person or event
   synonyms: toast

   type of:

   drink

   a single serving of a beverage
8. verb

   propose a toast to
   synonyms: drink, salute, toast, wassail

   types:

   give

   propose

   type of:

   honor, honour, reward

   bestow honor or rewards upon
9. verb

   pay (an amount of money) as a contribution to a charity or service, especially at regular intervals
   “I pledged $10 a month to my favorite radio station”

   synonyms: subscribe

   type of:

   donate

   give to a charity or good cause