pledge

UK: /ˈplɛdʒ/ US: /plɛdʒ/ ,(plej)

Inflections of 'pledge' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

pledges

v 3rd person singular

pledging

v pres p

pledged

v past

pledged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pledge /plɛdʒ/   n., v., pledged, pledg•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. a solemn promise to do or stop doing something:
   a pledge of economic aid to the newly independent countries.
2. something left behind as security or proof that one will pay a debt or keep a promise.
3. something given or thought of as a token, as of friendship or love:
   Take this ring as a pledge of my love.
4. a person accepted for membership in a club, but not yet formally initiated.

v. 

5. to bind (someone) by or as if by a pledge or promise:
   [~ + object + to + object] pledged everyone to secrecy.
6. to promise solemnly: [~ + object]
   to pledge support.
   [~ + to + verb + object]
   She pledged to support him in the upcoming election.
   [~ + that clause]
   He pledged that he would never betray the trust of the American people.

Idioms

7. Idioms take the pledge, to make a vow not to drink alcoholic beverages.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pledge  (plej), n., v., pledged, pledg•ing. 
n. 

1. a solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something:
   a pledge of aid; a pledge not to wage war.
2. 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.
3. the state of being given or held as security:
   to put a thing in pledge.
4. [Law.]
   • the act of delivering goods, property, etc., to another for security.
   • the resulting legal relationship.
5. something given or regarded as a security.
6. a person accepted for membership in a club, fraternity, or sorority, but not yet formally approved.
7. an assurance of support or goodwill conveyed by drinking a person's health;
   a toast.
8. [Obs.]
   • a hostage.
   • a person who becomes bail or surety for another.
9. Idioms take the pledge, to make a solemn, formal vow to abstain from intoxicating drink.

v.t. 

10. to bind by or as if by a pledge:
    to pledge hearers to secrecy.
11. to promise solemnly:
    to pledge one's support.
12. to give or deposit as a pledge;
    pawn.
13. to stake, as one's honor.
14. to secure by a pledge;
    give a pledge for.
15. to accept as a pledge for club, fraternity, or sorority membership.
16. to drink a health or toast to.

v.i. 

17. to make or give a pledge:
    to pledge for someone.
18. to drink a pledge;
    toast someone's health, success, etc.

• Gmc; compare Old English plēon to risk, German pflegen to look after. See plight²
• early Medieval Latin plevium, plebium, derivative of plebīre to pledge
• Anglo-French
• Middle English plege 1275–1325

pledge′a•ble, adj. 
pledg′er, n. 
pledge′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 2. warranty, surety, guaranty.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pledge / plɛdʒ/ noun

1. a formal or solemn promise or agreement, esp to do or refrain from doing something
2. collateral for the payment of a debt or the performance of an obligation
3. the condition of being collateral (esp in the phrase in pledge)
4. a sign, token, or indication: the gift is a pledge of their sincerity
5. an assurance of support or goodwill, conveyed by drinking to a person, cause, etc; toast: we drank a pledge to their success
6. a person who binds himself or herself, as by becoming bail or surety for another
7. sign the pledge, take the pledge ⇒ to make a vow to abstain from alcoholic drink

verb

1. to promise formally or solemnly
2. (transitive) to bind or secure by or as if by a pledge: they were pledged to secrecy
3. to give, deposit, or offer (one's word, freedom, property, etc) as a guarantee, as for the repayment of a loan
4. to drink a toast to (a person, cause, etc)

Etymology: 14th Century: 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

ˈpledgable, ˈpledgeable adjective