{
    "term": "pledge",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "pledge",
            "heSheIt": "pledges"
        },
        "pastSimple": "pledged",
        "pastParticiple": "pledged",
        "ingForm": "pledging"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to formally promise to give or do something",
            "sensetop": "pledge somethingpledge something to somebody/somethingpledge to do somethingpledge (that)…",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Japan has pledged $100 million in humanitarian aid.",
                    "contextForm": "pledge something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government **pledged their support** for the plan."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We all had to **pledge allegiance** to the flag *(= state that we are loyal to our country)*.",
                    "contextForm": "pledge something to somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The group has pledged to continue campaigning.",
                    "contextForm": "pledge to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The group has pledged that they will continue campaigning.",
                    "contextForm": "pledge (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The country pledged not to interfere in its neighbour's affairs."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government has pledged that it will not raise taxes."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to make somebody or yourself formally promise to do something",
            "sensetop": "pledge somebody/yourself (to something)pledge somebody/yourself to do something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They were all pledged to secrecy.",
                    "contextForm": "pledge somebody/yourself (to something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government has pledged itself to root out corruption.",
                    "contextForm": "pledge somebody/yourself to do something"
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "swear"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to leave something with somebody as a pledge",
            "sensetop": "pledge something",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to promise to become a junior member of a fraternity or sorority",
            "sensetop": "pledge something",
            "labels": "(North American English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Do you think you'll pledge this semester?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "My brother pledged Sigma Nu (= promised to join the Sigma Nu )",
                    "contextForm": "pledge something"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pledʒ/",
                "audio": "pl/pledge/pledge__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈpledʒɪz/",
                "audio": "pl/pledge/pledges__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pledʒd/",
                "audio": "pl/pledge/pledged__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈpledʒɪŋ/",
                "audio": "pl/pledge/pledging__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pledʒ/",
                "audio": "pl/pledge/pledge__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈpledʒɪz/",
                "audio": "pl/pledge/pledges__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/pledʒd/",
                "audio": "pl/pledge/pledged__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈpledʒɪŋ/",
                "audio": "pl/pledge/pledging__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": null
}