What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Pledge vs Require - What's the difference?

pledge | require |

As verbs the difference between pledge and require

is that pledge is to make a solemn promise (to do something) while require is to ask (someone) for something; to request.

As a noun pledge

is a solemn promise to do something.

pledge

English

(wikipedia pledge)

Verb

(pledg)
  • To make a solemn promise (to do something).
  • To deposit something as a security; to pawn.
  • To give assurance of friendship by the act of drinking; to drink to one's health.
  • * 1773 ,
  • HARDCASTLE [Taking the cup.] I hope you'll find it to your mind. I have prepared it with my own hands, and I believe you'll own the ingredients are tolerable. Will you be so good as to pledge me, sir? Here, Mr. Marlow, here is to our better acquaintance. [Drinks.]
  • * 1852 , Matthew Arnold, Tristram and Iseult
  • Reach me my golden cup that stands by thee,
    And pledge me in it first for courtesy.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A solemn promise to do something.
  • Something given by a person who is borrowing money etc to the person he has borrowed it from, to be kept until the money etc is returned.
  • A person who has taken a pledge of allegiance to a college fraternity, but not yet formally approved.
  • A security to guarantee payment of a debt.
  • A drinking toast.
  • A promise to abstain from drinking alcohol.
  • Synonyms

    * (l) * (l)

    Derived terms

    * (l) * (l)

    require

    English

    Verb

    (requir)
  • (label) To ask (someone) for something; to request.
  • *, Bk.XI:
  • *:I requyre yow lete vs be sworne to gyders that neuer none of vs shalle after this day haue adoo with other, and there with alle syre Tristram and sire Lamorak sware that neuer none of hem shold fyghte ageynst other nor for wele, nor for woo.
  • *1526 , Bible , tr. William Tyndale, Mark V:
  • *:I requyre the in the name of god, that thou torment me nott.
  • To demand, to insist upon (having); to call for authoritatively.
  • *1998 , Joan Wolf, The Gamble , Warner Books:
  • *:"I am Miss Newbury," I announced, "and I require to be shown to my room immediately, if you please."
  • *2009 , Vikram Dodd, The Guardian , 29 December:
  • *:‘Regrettably, I have concluded, after considering the matter over Christmas, that I can no longer maintain the high standard of service I require of myself, meet the demands of office and cope with the pressures of public life, without my health deteriorating further.’
  • Naturally to demand (something) as indispensable; to need, to call for as necessary.
  • *1972 , "Aid for Aching Heads", Time , 5 June:
  • *:Chronic pain is occasionally a sign of a very serious problem, like brain tumors, and can require surgery.
  • *2009 , Julian Borger, The Guardian , 7 February:
  • *:A weapon small enough to put on a missile would require uranium enriched to more than 90% U-235.
  • To demand of (someone) to do something.
  • *1970 , "Compulsory Midi", Time , 29 June:
  • *:After Aug 3 all salesgirls will be required to wear only one style of skirt while on duty: the midi.
  • *2007 , Allegra Stratton, "Smith to ban non-EU unskilled immigrants from working in UK", The Guardian , 5 December:
  • *:The government would like to require non-British fiances who wish to marry a British citizen to sit an English test.