promising

adjective

prom·​is·​ing ˈprä-mə-siŋ How to pronounce promising (audio)
: full of promise : likely to succeed or to yield good results
a promising new medicine
promisingly adverb

Examples of promising in a Sentence

The neighborhood didn't look very promising. a promising writer who just may write the great American novel someday
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Viewers got tired of the endless bait-and-switches, and the promising and smart show of Lois & Clark’s first season slowly sputtered out by its fourth. Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024 Such a promising shift was apparently driven in part by nationwide efforts to increase testing among pregnant women. Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024 But if three diamonds suggests a strong hand, your hand is too promising to sign off at game. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024 One of the most promising candidates of new green energy is nuclear power. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for promising 

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of promising was in 1594

Cite this Entry

“Promising.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promising. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

promising

adjective
prom·​is·​ing
ˈpräm-ə-siŋ
: likely to turn out well
a promising student
promisingly
-siŋ-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on promising

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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