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adj Common

promising

PRO-mih-sihng

Promising (adj) means Likely to turn out well or succeed; showing good early signs. Example: “The early trial results look promising for the new vaccine.”

adj
1
Likely to turn out well or succeed; showing good early signs.
"The early trial results look promising for the new vaccine."
"She's a promising young architect with a bright career ahead of her."

How to use promising

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishShowing signs that something good will happen.

Common pairings
promising start promising career promising sign

Word forms

more promising comparative, promisings plural, most promising superlative

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The early trial results look _____ for the new vaccine.

Related words

Rhymes for promising

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Frequently asked questions

What does “promising” mean?

The word “promising” means likely to turn out well or succeed; showing good early signs. In plain terms, showing signs that something good will happen.

How do you pronounce “promising”?

“Promising” is pronounced PRO-mih-sihng (/ˈpɹɑmɪsɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “promising” in a sentence?

Here is “promising” used in a sentence: “The early trial results look promising for the new vaccine.”

What is another word for “promising”?

Words with a similar meaning to “promising” include prosperous and rosy.

What part of speech is “promising”?

“Promising” is an adjective.

Is “promising” a common word?

“Promising” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What is the difference between "promising" and "hopeful"?

"Promising" describes the thing or person that shows good early signs ("a promising start"), based on visible evidence of likely success. "Hopeful" usually describes the person who feels or expresses hope, so a promising candidate can make voters feel hopeful.

What nouns commonly go with "promising"?

"Promising" often describes beginnings and potential, as in "a promising start," "a promising career," "a promising young player," and "promising results." It suggests success is likely but has not yet arrived.

Is "promising" always positive?

In its normal sense "promising" is a compliment, meaning likely to succeed or turn out well. It can sound faintly cautious, however, because it points to future potential rather than proven achievement.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial