1
a
: a bailment of a chattel as security for a debt or other obligation without involving transfer of title
b
: the chattel so delivered
c
: the contract incidental to such a bailment
2
a
: the state of being held as a security or guaranty
b
: something given as security for the performance of an act
3
: a token, sign, or earnest of something else
4
: a gage of battle
5
6
a
: a binding promise or agreement to do or forbear
b(1)
: a promise to join a fraternity, sorority, or secret society
(2)
: a person who has so promised
pledged; pledging
1
: to make a pledge of
especially
: pawn
2
: to drink to the health of
3
: to bind by a pledge
4
: to promise the performance of by a pledge
Synonyms
Examples of pledge in a Sentence
Noun
He has promised to fulfill a campaign pledge to cut taxes.
To make a pledge or donation, please call the charity's office.
The company has made a pledge of over $3,000.
He left his car as a pledge that he would return with the money.
Verb
Her family pledged $100,000 toward the construction of a new school.
He called to pledge money to the charity.
Every morning, we pledge allegiance to the flag.
teenagers who have pledged not to start smoking
During his campaign, he pledged that he would not raise taxes.
The chefs are pledged to keep the restaurant's special recipe a secret.
He pledged his paintings as collateral for a loan.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sumant Sinha, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
That was evidenced again by a video pledge to the industry in the middle of the festival’s opening ceremony from the new Prime Minister.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 3 Nov. 2024
Peter Green, Quartz, 10 Nov. 2024
During his 2016 campaign, Trump pledged to appoint Supreme Court justices who could help overturn Roe v. Wade.
—Randi Richardson, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pledge 
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Noun
This is as important as the other potential targets and pledges being talked about – on grids and battery storage.
—Sumant Sinha, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
That was evidenced again by a video pledge to the industry in the middle of the festival’s opening ceremony from the new Prime Minister.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
Donald Trump has pledged to slap high tariffs on imports and slash corporate income taxes.
—Peter Green, Quartz, 10 Nov. 2024
During his 2016 campaign, Trump pledged to appoint Supreme Court justices who could help overturn Roe v. Wade.
—Randi Richardson, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pledge
Dictionary Entries Near pledge
Cite this Entry
“Pledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pledge. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pledge
1 of 2 noun1
: the handing over of something to another to assure that the giver will keep his or her promise
also
: the thing handed over
2
: the state of being held as a security
given in pledge
3
: something that is a token or sign of something else
the ring is a pledge of love
5
: a promise or agreement that must be kept
pledge
2 of 2 verb
pledged; pledging
1
: to give as a pledge
2
: to drink to the health of : toast entry 3
3
: to obligate by a pledge
pledged myself to give $50
4
: to promise by a pledge
pledge money to charity
Legal Definition
pledge
1 of 2 noun1
: a delivery of especially personal property as security for a debt or other obligation
broadly
: the perfection of a security interest in collateral through possession of the collateral by a creditor or other promisee
2
a
: property and especially personal property that is used as security especially upon delivery
broadly
: a security interest in collateral compare chattel mortgage at mortgage
b
: a contract under which the delivery of property (as personal property) as security takes place
3
a
: the state of being held as security or guaranty
property held in pledge
b
: something given as security for the performance of an act
4
: a binding promise to do or forbear
pledge
2 of 2 transitive verb
pledged; pledging
1
: to deliver or otherwise put forward as security for a debt or other obligation
pledged his car as collateral for the loan
2
: to bind by a pledge
we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor—Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence3
: to assure or promise the performance or payment of
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