pledge

PLEJ/plɛd͡ʒ/

10 meanings of pledge

1
nouncountable
A serious promise to do something.
Like giving your word and really meaning to keep it.
He made a pledge to give up sweets for a whole month.
Their pledge to clean up the park brought many volunteers.
Similarcommitment, promise, undertaking
2
verbtransitive
To promise something in a serious, honest way.
Like giving your word that you truly mean to do it.
I pledge to always tell the truth in court.
They pledged to support each other no matter what happened.
Similarpromise, undertake
Note
3
nouncountable
Something valuable, or even a person, given to another as a guarantee that a promise will be kept.
Like leaving your bike with a friend so they know you'll come back for it.
The king sent his own son as a pledge to the enemy until the treaty was signed.
She left her ring as a pledge that she would return to pay.
Similarsecurity, collateral, surety, hostage, guarantee
Note
4
verbtransitive
To leave something valuable with someone as a guarantee, often to borrow money.
Like leaving your phone at a shop in return for money you'll pay back later.
He pledged his watch to get money for the rent.
People sometimes pledge jewelry when they need cash quickly.
Similarpawn, mortgage, hock
Oppositeredeem
5
nouncountable
A student who has promised to join a college club or fraternity but has not been fully accepted yet.
Like a new team member who is still training and hasn't made the final squad.
As a pledge, he had to learn the names of all the older members.
The pledges gathered in the common room before the ceremony.
Similarinitiate, recruit, probationer, neophyte
Note
6
nouncountable
A serious promise to stop drinking alcohol.
Like promising yourself you will never touch something again, and meaning it.
After years of trouble, he took the pledge and never drank again.
Her grandfather signed a pledge to give up alcohol for good.
Similarcommitment, promise, undertaking
Note
7
nouncountable
A deal where you hand over an item to back a loan, while still owning it, until the debt is paid.
Like leaving a deposit so the lender knows you'll pay them back.
The shop took her necklace as a pledge until she repaid the loan.
He used his car as a pledge for the money he borrowed.
Similarpawn
Note
8
nouncountable
The actual item handed over to a lender, kept by them until the debt is paid.
Like the deposit a shop holds onto until you finish paying.
When she repaid the loan, the shop returned her pledge.
The lender kept the gold watch as a pledge until the final payment.
Similarcollateral, security
Note
9
nouncountable
A toast made to someone's health when drinking together.
Like raising your glass and saying 'to your health!' before you drink.
They raised their glasses in a pledge to the happy couple.
He offered a warm pledge to the host before drinking.
Similartoast, health
10
verbtransitive
To drink to someone's health as a sign of friendship.
Like raising your glass to a friend to show you care about them.
The soldiers pledged their captain before marching out.
Friends gathered to pledge one another at the long table.
Similartoast, salute
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English plege, coming through Old French and Medieval Latin, and originally from a Frankish word meaning to pledge or guarantee.