Pledge — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈplej/

Meaning & Definition of Pledge

Pledge (noun)

  1. a delivery of especially personal property as security for a debt or other obligation
  2. the property so delivered
  3. the contract incidental to such a delivery

Pledge (verb)

  1. to make a pledge of; especially, pawn
  2. to drink to the health of
  3. to bind by a pledge

Pledge (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to obligate by prior agreement

    "I would love to go to dinner with you, but I've pledged myself to a play with my parents that night"

    similar: commit, engage, mortgage, troth
    related: affiance, betroth, plight, promise, swear, vow, contract, enlist, enroll, sign on, sign up, overcommit
    near: renege

  2. to leave as a guarantee of repayment of a loan

    "pledged their house against the loan"

    similar: hock, pawn
    related: deposit, mortgage, bond
    near: buy (back), redeem, win (back)

  3. to make a solemn declaration of intent

    "I pledge that I will abide by all of the rules of this organization"

    similar: covenant, promise, swear, vow, give one's word
    related: affiance, betroth, plight, troth, accede, agree, assent, consent, contract, engage, ensure, guarantee, undertake, affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, declare, insist, warrant

Pledge (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something given or held to assure that the giver will keep a promise

    "I was required to leave my keys as a pledge that I would bring the car back"

    similar: gage, guarantee, guaranty, pawn, security
    related: bail, bond, deposit, down payment, earnest, handsel, surety, warranty, assurance, oath, promise, troth, word, commitment, compact, contract, covenant, recognizance

  2. a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something

    "made a pledge to quit smoking"

    similar: oath, promise, troth, vow, word
    related: appointment, arrangement, commitment, engagement, obligation, agreement, compact, contract, covenant, assurance, guarantee, guaranty, undertaking, bail, bond, deposit, gage, pawn, security, token, warranty

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pledge

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pledge:

commit, engage, mortgage, troth, hock, pawn, covenant, promise, swear, vow, give one's word, gage, guarantee, guaranty, security, oath, word

Related Words for Pledge

affiance, betroth, plight, contract, enlist, enroll, sign on, sign up, overcommit, deposit, bond, accede, agree, assent, consent, ensure, undertake, affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, declare, insist, warrant, bail, down payment, earnest, handsel, surety

Near Antonyms of Pledge

renege, buy (back), redeem, win (back)

Word Forms of Pledge

Inflections: pledged, pledging

Derived words: pledger (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Pledge

Middle English plegge, plege "surety for a person, guarantor," borrowed from Anglo-French (also continental Old & Middle French plege, pleige), going back to early Medieval Latin plebium, plevium, plibium, noun derivative (with the Latin deverbal suffix -ium) of plebere "to give surety," probably blend of Latin praebeō, praebēre "to put forward, offer, provide" and an Old Low Franconian verb *plegan- cognate with Old Saxon plegan "to accept responsibility (for)," Middle Dutch pleghen "to look after," Old High German pflegan "to look (after), bear responsibility, vouch (for)" plight:2

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Pledge

Words & Phrases Containing Pledge

the Pledge of Allegiance

Frequently Asked Questions about Pledge

What does "Pledge" mean?

"Pledge" means a delivery of especially personal property as security for a debt or other obligation. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a delivery of especially personal property as security for a debt or other obligation. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pledge"?

Other words for "Pledge" include commit, engage, mortgage, troth, hock, pawn, covenant and promise. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pledge" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pledge"?

There are 59 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pledge". Common alternatives include commit, engage, mortgage, troth, hock, pawn, covenant, promise, swear and vow.

How do you use "Pledge" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pledge" in a sentence: "I would love to go to dinner with you, but I've pledged myself to a play with my parents that night"; "pledged their house against the loan"; "I pledge that I will abide by all of the rules of this organization".

Is "Pledge" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pledge" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Pledge" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Pledge" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Pledge"?

"Pledge" is pronounced /ˈplej/.

What is the origin of the word "Pledge"?

"Pledge" comes from Middle English plegge, plege "surety for a person, guarantor," borrowed from Anglo-French (also continental Old & Middle French plege, pleige), going back to early Medieval Latin plebium, plevium, plibium, noun derivative (with the Latin deverbal suffix -ium) of plebere "to give surety," probably blend of Latin praebeō, praebēre "to put forward, offer, provide" and an Old Low Franconian verb *plegan- cognate with Old Saxon plegan "to accept responsibility (for)," Middle Dutch pleghen "to look after," Old High German pflegan "to look (after), bear responsibility, vouch (for)" plight:2. First known use: 15th century.