0 past simple and past participle of promise
1 to tell someone that you will certainly do something:
[ + to infinitive ] He promised faithfully to call me every week.
[ + that ] The government have promised that they'll reduce taxes.
[ + (that) ] Promise me (that) you won't tell him.
I'll look for some while I'm at the shops but I'm not promising anything.
Can I have that book back when you've finished because I've promised it (= I have said I will give it) to Sara.
[ + two objects ] Her parents promised her a new car if she passed her exams.
I've promised myself a long bath when I get through all this work.
[ + speech ] "I'll come round and see you every day," she promised.
"I won't do anything dangerous." "You promise?" "I promise."
"I won't have time to take you shopping this afternoon." "But you promised!"
2 If something promises to be good, exciting, etc. it is expected to be good, exciting, etc.:
"But listen, you must promise never to tell anyone." "I promise."
You have to stand up in court and promise to tell 'the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth'.
I promised the babysitter that we'd be home by midnight.
She's been promising to pay back the money for six months, but I reckon she's just stringing me along.
While this promised much, it came as no surprise that researchers in developing countries wanted exactly the same as everyone else.
Its focus on land and its elimination of the human factor promised a rational basis of administration and an ' objective ' basis for taxation.
The state may not, when required, provide the guarantee/payment initially promised.
