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Promising Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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promising

[ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

future success

Showing signs of future success or excellence; full of promise.

Synonyms

encouraging, hopeful, potential, prospective.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
promising

Used when describing someone or something that shows signs of future success or potential.

  • She is a promising young scientist
  • The team's performance is promising for the upcoming season
hopeful

Refers to a feeling of optimism or a person who has a positive outlook about future outcomes.

  • She remains hopeful despite the challenges
  • The team's fans were hopeful for a victory
encouraging

Describes actions, words, or situations that give support, confidence, or hope, often in the context of improvement or progress.

  • The teacher's feedback was very encouraging
  • The latest economic data is encouraging for small businesses
prospective

Describes someone who is expected to be something in the future or something that is expected to happen.

  • They met with prospective clients
  • She is a prospective candidate for the position
potential

Refers to qualities or abilities that may develop and lead to future success or usefulness.

  • He has great potential as a musician
  • The new technology has the potential to revolutionize the industry

Examples of usage

  • He is a promising young actor with a bright future ahead.
  • The company has a promising new product that is expected to do well in the market.
  • She received a scholarship based on her promising academic achievements.
Context #2 | Verb

to show potential

To give hope or expectation of future success.

Synonyms

holding out hope, indicating promise, showing potential.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
promising

Use when describing someone or something that seems likely to be successful or achieve good results soon.

  • The young artist has shown very promising talent in her paintings.
  • The company's new product line is very promising and may revolutionize the market.
showing potential

Use to describe something or someone that shows the ability to develop into something successful or valuable.

  • The new employee is showing potential in project management.
  • The recently released book is showing potential to become a bestseller.
indicating promise

Use in more formal or analytical situations to describe someone or something that shows signs of future success.

  • The early results of the clinical trial are indicating promise for the new drug.
  • The prototype is indicating promise in its ability to solve the problem.
holding out hope

Use when someone continues to believe that something good will happen, even if it seems unlikely.

  • Despite the difficulties, the team is still holding out hope for a victory.
  • She was holding out hope that her friend would recover from the illness.

Examples of usage

  • The results of the experiment are promising for further research in the field.
  • The young athlete is promising great things in her future career.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'promising'

The word 'promising' originated from the verb 'promise', which comes from the Latin word 'promittere', meaning 'send forth, let go, yield'. The adjective form 'promising' evolved from the idea of something showing signs of future success or excellence. It has been used in English since the 16th century.

See also: promise, promised, promiser, promises, promisor.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,649, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.