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⇱ pledged - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

pledged


From the verb pledge: (⇒ conjugate)
pledged is: ⓘClick the infinitive to see all available inflections
v past
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pledge /plɛdʒ/USA pronunciation   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. 
  1. to bind (someone) by or as if by a pledge or promise:[~ + object + to + object]pledged everyone to secrecy.
  2. 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
  1. Idioms take the pledge, to make a vow not to drink alcoholic beverages.


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pledge  (plej),USA pronunciation 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. 
  1. to bind by or as if by a pledge:to pledge hearers to secrecy.
  2. to promise solemnly:to pledge one's support.
  3. to give or deposit as a pledge;
    pawn.
  4. to stake, as one's honor.
  5. to secure by a pledge;
    give a pledge for.
  6. to accept as a pledge for club, fraternity, or sorority membership.
  7. to drink a health or toast to.

v.i. 
  1. to make or give a pledge:to pledge for someone.
  2. 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. 
    2. warranty, surety, guaranty.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
pledge /plɛdʒ/ n
  1. a formal or solemn promise or agreement, esp to do or refrain from doing something
    • collateral for the payment of a debt or the performance of an obligation
    • the condition of being collateral (esp in the phrase in pledge)
  3. a sign, token, or indication: the gift is a pledge of their sincerity
  4. an assurance of support or goodwill, conveyed by drinking to a person, cause, etc; toast: we drank a pledge to their success
  5. a person who binds himself or herself, as by becoming bail or surety for another
  6. sign the pledge, take the pledge ⇒ to make a vow to abstain from alcoholic drink
 vb
  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 forˈpledgable, ˈpledgeable adj
'pledged' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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