Commit vs. Promise: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
Commit means to pledge or bind oneself to an action, while promise refers to assuring someone that one will do, give, or arrange something.
Key Differences
Commit refers to the act of pledging, binding, or engaging oneself to a specific course of action or cause. When someone commits, they're often taking on an obligation or responsibility. For instance, when one commits to a task, they are taking on the responsibility of ensuring its completion.
Promise, on the other hand, is about giving someone your word or assurance. It is more about stating an intention than the action itself. A promise gives someone the confidence or hope that a particular thing will happen in the future. For example, promising to call someone means expressing the intent to make the call.
Another difference is the weight and formality often attached to each term. Commit can carry a more formal or serious tone, especially when used in legal or formal contexts. For instance, committing to a contract implies legal responsibilities and consequences for not fulfilling such obligations.
Conversely, while a promise can also be binding, especially morally or socially, it's generally perceived as less formal. Promises are often more personal and can be made in casual settings. However, it's essential to note that breaking a promise can have significant social and emotional consequences.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Pledge or bind oneself to an action
Assure someone of a future action or outcome
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Nature
Often formal or serious
Generally perceived as less formal
Context
Legal, professional, personal
Mostly personal, can be professional
Implies
Obligation and responsibility
Intention and assurance
Consequence of Breach
Legal, professional repercussions
Social, emotional repercussions
Commit and Promise Definitions
Commit
Pledge to do something.
She committed to finishing the project on time.
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Promise
Assure someone about a future action.
I promise to return the book tomorrow.
Commit
Carry out an act, usually a crime.
The suspect committed the crime last night.
Promise
Indicate a probable occurrence.
The dark clouds promise rain.
Commit
Place in a secure environment.
He was committed to a rehabilitation center.
Promise
A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something.
She made a promise never to lie again.
Commit
To do, perform, or perpetrate
Commit a murder.
Promise
A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something; a vow.
Commit
To put in trust or charge; entrust
Commit oneself to the care of a doctor.
Commit responsibilities to an assistant.
Promise
Something promised.
Commit
To consign for future use or for preservation
We must commit the necessary funds for the project.
Promise
Indication of something favorable to come; expectation
A promise of spring in the air.
Commit
To place officially in confinement or custody, as in a mental health facility.
Promise
Indication of future excellence or success
A player of great promise.
Commit
To put into a place to be disposed of or kept safe
Committed the manuscript to the flames.
Promise
To commit oneself by a promise to do or give; pledge
Left but promised to return.
Commit
To make known the views of (oneself) on an issue
I never commit myself on such issues.
Promise
To afford a basis for expecting
Thunderclouds that promise rain.
Commit
To bind, obligate, or devote, as by a pledge
They were committed to follow orders. She committed herself to her art.
Promise
To make a declaration assuring that something will or will not be done.
Commit
To refer (a legislative bill, for example) to a committee.
Promise
To afford a basis for expectation
An enterprise that promises well.
Commit
To pledge, obligate, or devote one's own self
Felt that he was too young to commit fully to marriage.
Promise
(countable) an oath or affirmation; a vow
If I make a promise, I always stick to it;
He broke his promise
Commit
(transitive) To give in trust; to put into charge or keeping; to entrust; to consign; used with to or formerly unto.
Promise
(countable) A transaction between two persons whereby the first person undertakes in the future to render some service or gift to the second person or devotes something valuable now and here to his use.
Commit
(transitive) To imprison: to forcibly place in a jail.
Promise
(uncountable) Reason to expect improvement or success; potential.
She shows great promise as an actress.
Commit
(transitive) To forcibly evaluate and treat in a medical facility, particularly for presumed mental illness.
Tony should be committed to a nuthouse!
Promise
A placeholder object representing the eventual result of an asynchronous operation.
Commit
(transitive) To do (something bad); to perpetrate, as a crime, sin, or fault.
To commit murder
To commit a series of heinous crimes
Promise
Bestowal or fulfillment of what is promised
Commit
(ambitransitive) To pledge or bind; to compromise, expose, or endanger by some decisive act or preliminary step. Traditionally used only reflexively but now also without oneself etc.
To commit oneself to a certain action
To commit to a relationship
Promise
(ambitransitive) To commit to (some action or outcome), or to assure (a person) of such commitment; to make an oath or vow.
If you promise not to tell anyone, I will let you have this cake for free.
She promised to never return to this town again.
He promised me a big kiss if I would drive him to the airport.
I can't promise success, but I'll do the best I can.
Commit
To make a set of changes permanent.
Promise
(intransitive) To give grounds for expectation, especially of something good.
The clouds promise rain.
Commit
To integrate new revisions into the public or master version of a file in a version control system.
Promise
In general, a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it to do, or to forbear to do, a specified act; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Commit
To enter into a contest; to match; often followed by with.
Promise
An engagement by one person to another, either in words or in writing, but properly not under seal, for the performance or nonperformance of some particular thing. The word promise is used to denote the mere engagement of a person, without regard to the consideration for it, or the corresponding duty of the party to whom it is made.
Commit
To confound.
Promise
That which causes hope, expectation, or assurance; especially, that which affords expectation of future distinction; as, a youth of great promise.
My native country was full of youthful promise.
Commit
To commit an offence; especially, to fornicate.
Promise
Bestowal, fulfillment, or grant of what is promised.
He . . . commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.
Commit
To be committed or perpetrated; to take place; to occur.
Promise
To engage to do, give, make, or to refrain from doing, giving, or making, or the like; to covenant; to engage; as, to promise a visit; to promise a cessation of hostilities; to promise the payment of money.
Commit
The act of committing (e.g. a database transaction), making it a permanent change; such a change.
Promise
To afford reason to expect; to cause hope or assurance of; as, the clouds promise rain.
Commit
(programming) The submission of source code or other material to a source control repository.
Promise
To make declaration of or give assurance of, as some benefit to be conferred; to pledge or engage to bestow; as, the proprietors promised large tracts of land; the city promised a reward.
I dare promise myself you will attest the truth of all I have advanced.
Commit
To give in trust; to put into charge or keeping; to intrust; to consign; - used with to, unto.
Commit thy way unto the Lord.
Bid him farewell, commit him to the grave.
Promise
To give assurance by a promise, or binding declaration.
Commit
To put in charge of a jailor; to imprison.
These two were committed.
Promise
To afford hopes or expectation; to give ground to expect good; rarely, to give reason to expect evil.
Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion?I fear it, I promise you.
Commit
To do; to perpetrate, as a crime, sin, or fault.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Promise
A verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
Commit
To join for a contest; to match; - followed by with.
Promise
Grounds for feeling hopeful about the future;
There is little or no promise that he will recover
Commit
To pledge or bind; to compromise, expose, or endanger by some decisive act or preliminary step; - often used reflexively; as, to commit one's self to a certain course.
You might have satisfied every duty of political friendship, without commiting the honor of your sovereign.
Any sudden assent to the proposal . . . might possibly be considered as committing the faith of the United States.
Promise
Make a promise or commitment
Commit
To confound.
Committing short and long [quantities].
Promise
Promise to undertake or give;
I promise you my best effort
Commit
To sin; esp., to be incontinent.
Commit not with man's sworn spouse.
Promise
Make a prediction about; tell in advance;
Call the outcome of an election
Commit
Perform an act, usually with a negative connotation;
Perpetrate a crime
Pull a bank robbery
Promise
Give grounds for expectations;
The new results were promising
The results promised fame and glory
Commit
Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause;
She committed herself to the work of God
Give one's talents to a good cause
Consecrate your life to the church
Promise
Show potential or signs of future development.
The young athlete shows promise.
Commit
Cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution;
After the second episode, she had to be committed
He was committed to prison
Promise
An indication of future success or improvement.
The new policy holds a promise for economic growth.
Commit
Confer a trust upon;
The messenger was entrusted with the general's secret
I commit my soul to God
Commit
Make an investment;
Put money into bonds
Commit
Engage oneself in a particular activity.
He committed himself to a life of service.
Commit
Entrust or give charge of.
They committed the task to the new manager.
FAQs
What does it mean to commit?
To commit means to pledge or bind oneself to an action or cause.
Can you commit to a promise?
Yes, you can pledge or bind yourself to fulfill a promise.
Can "commit" refer to illegal activities?
Yes, "commit" can refer to carrying out acts, including crimes.
Is a commitment more action-oriented than a promise?
Generally, yes. Commitment implies action or obligation, while promise indicates intent.
Can an inanimate object commit?
Not in the active sense. However, in certain contexts, like "the paper commits the findings," it's metaphorical.
How does a promise differ from a commitment?
A promise is an assurance of intent, while a commitment indicates taking on an obligation.
Is a promise legally binding?
Not always; it's context-dependent, but some promises, like contractual agreements, are.
Is "commit" always serious?
Often, especially in formal contexts, but its seriousness depends on the situation.
What is an empty promise?
It's a promise made without the intention or ability to fulfill it.
What is a synonym for commit?
"Pledge" can be a synonym for commit.
Can you promise without intending to keep it?
Yes, but it's considered dishonest and can harm trust.
Is a promise always about the future?
Mostly yes, as it indicates an intent or assurance about a future event.
Can commitments change?
Yes, circumstances might lead to changes in commitments, but communication is crucial.
Is breaking a commitment more severe than breaking a promise?
Often yes, especially in formal contexts, but both can have significant repercussions.
Can animals promise?
Not in the human linguistic sense, but they can show patterns that indicate predictability.
Are promises always verbal?
No, they can be implied through actions or written down.
Can a promise be implied?
Yes, actions or situations can sometimes imply a promise without explicit wording.
Does commitment always require external pressure?
No, commitments can be self-imposed or arise from personal principles.
Why might someone commit to an action?
Due to responsibility, obligation, personal or professional reasons, among others.
What's the opposite of promise?
"Break" as in "break a promise" or "renege."
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
