be pledged to

USAGE SUMMARY

"be pledged to" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate a commitment or promise to support or uphold something. Example: "The organization is pledged to environmental sustainability." Alternative expressions include "committed to" and "dedicated to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The Met's operating deficits are so immense that its assets must be pledged to fund them.

The New Yorker

At the meeting, money is expected to be pledged to rebuild the island, which is just south of India.

The New York Times

Greece's existing creditors, from the IMF to other European governments and private banks, would effectively be subordinated, since scarce revenue would be pledged to pay off new creditors.

The Economist

With Tuesday's changes, $1 trillion in securities that previously did not previously qualify as collateral will be eligible to be pledged to the central bank.

The New York Times

The Fed's action allows them to expand the type of collateral that can be pledged to include student loans, car loans, home equity loans and credit card debt, as long as it is highly rated.

The New York Times

Thus, if John Kerry gets half the votes in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, half of New Hampshire's delegates to the Democratic National Convention in July will be pledged to vote for Mr Kerry at the gathering.Caucuses are a different way of choosing state delegates to the national party convention.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

We should be pledging to stand tall and create a supportive and equal environment for women.

TechCrunch

Isis is pledged to physically eliminate Shia.

Independent

Both are pledged to continue her work.

The Guardian

He is pledged to do more of both.

The Economist

(Even though both restaurants are pledged to pay it off).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In humanitarian or philanthropic contexts, use this phrase to highlight a public promise of aid or support.

Common error

Avoid using "pledged to" when you are describing the purpose or duration of a commitment rather than the recipient or the action. While billions are often "pledged for" a cause, they are usually "pledged to" an organization or to achieve a specific result.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be pledged to" functions as a passive verbal construction. It typically links a subject (the thing or person being committed) to a recipient or an action. According to Ludwig, it is primarily used to describe the allocation of resources or the binding of a person's future actions to a specific path.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki & Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be pledged to" is a robust and formal way to express binding commitments. Whether referring to financial collateral, political delegates, or humanitarian aid, it implies a level of certainty and formal agreement that simpler phrases like "promise to" may lack. Ludwig AI reveals its high prevalence in quality journalism, where it is used to hold institutions and individuals accountable for their public declarations. When writing, remember that it carries a tone of serious obligation, making it ideal for professional, legal, and political contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be committed to

More general and implies a dedicated state of mind or purpose

be dedicated to

Focuses on the devotion of time or effort to a specific cause

be promised to

Used when a verbal or written guarantee has been made to a recipient

be bound to

Suggests a legal or moral obligation that cannot be easily broken

be earmarked for

Specific to financial contexts where funds are set aside for a particular purpose

be sworn to

Indicates a formal oath, often regarding secrecy or loyalty

be devoted to

Emphasizes the exclusive focus of resources or attention

be collateralized for

A technical financial term used when assets back a loan or debt

be obliged to

Focuses on the requirement or duty to perform an action

be assigned to

A more neutral term for the allocation of people or resources

FAQs

How do I use "be pledged to" in a sentence?

You can use "be pledged to" to indicate a formal promise or asset allocation. For example: "The company's assets will "be pledged to" secure the new loan".

What is a more common alternative to "be pledged to"?

Depending on the context, you might use "be committed to" for general promises or "be dedicated to" for focused efforts.

Can "be pledged to" be used for people?

Yes, especially in political contexts. Delegates can "be pledged to vote" for a specific candidate based on primary results.

Is "be pledged to" formal?

Yes, it is a formal expression frequently used in finance, law, and high-level journalism to denote a binding or serious commitment.