pledges

Noun

pledge (plural pledges)

1. A solemn promise to do something.
   • Mr. Biden unveiled the pledge at a White House climate summit for world leaders, declaring that the United States is ready to reclaim a leadership role on climate change.2021 April 22, Brad Plumer, Nadja Popovich, “The U.S. Has a New Climate Goal. How Does It Stack Up Globally?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms:

   commitment, undertaking

   1. A promise to abstain from drinking alcohol.
2. An asset or person temporarily handed over to guarantee the fulfilment of something promised, under threat of permanent loss of the thing handed over; surety, security, hostage.
   • Iacke Straw. […] I haue his wife and children pledges, for his ſpeedie returne from the King, to whom he is gone with our meſſage.
     Tom Miller. Let him take heede hee bring a wiſe anſwere to our worships, or els his pledges goes to the pot.1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I
3. A bailment of personal property to secure payment of a debt without transfer of title.
   1. The personal property so pledged, to be kept until the debt is paid.
4. (university slang) A person who has taken a pledge of allegiance to a college fraternity, but is not yet formally approved.

See all 10 meanings of pledge