held promise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "held promise" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has potential or the possibility of success in the future. Example: "The new technology held promise for revolutionizing the industry and improving efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The leader board held promise for an interesting weekend.

The New York Times - Sports

The menu, with its Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine, held promise.

The New York Times

Given that flexibility, "Bionic" (RCA), her fourth studio album, which was released in June, held promise.

The New York Times - Arts

And indeed, the opening movement, "Vysehrad" ("The High Castle"), held promise.

The New York Times - Arts

He and Mr. Watts have worked together only in glancing fashion, so this encounter held promise.

The New York Times - Arts

That Walt once held promise and high expectations is signaled early on.

The New York Times - Arts

Other doctors had written that Iplex held promise as a treatment for various other diseases.

The New York Times

Experts not involved in the study agreed that the drugs held promise for treating disease.

The New York Times - Science

The notion held promise, but much of the music failed to deliver, and some performances seemed unusually tentative.

The New York Times - Arts

The creation of lasers from relatively inexpensive silicon components held promise for the development of many new applications.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But the move forced the Tory leadership into a damaging policy U-turn as they abandoned the party's long-held promise to hold a referendum on Lisbon.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "held promise", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific potential or positive outcome was anticipated. For example: "The new drug held promise for treating the disease effectively."

Common error

Avoid using "held promise" when referring to current or future potential. Use "holds promise" for present potential or "will hold promise" for future potential instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held promise" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a sentence. It describes a past state where something exhibited potential or offered hope, indicating a favorable expectation that may or may not have been realized. As Ludwig AI illustrates, it is often used to describe initial stages or expectations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "held promise" is a versatile verb phrase indicating past potential or hope. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is commonly used in News & Media and Science contexts. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, consider the surrounding vocabulary to determine its degree of formality. When writing with "held promise", ensure that the context clearly defines what specific potential was anticipated. Remember, "held promise" refers to past potential, unlike "holds promise" which denotes current potential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Showed potential

Replaces "held promise" with a more direct expression of potential, focusing on demonstrated ability.

Offered hope

Substitutes "held promise" with a phrase emphasizing the hope or positive expectation associated with something.

Looked promising

Uses a different verb and adjective combination to convey a similar sense of potential and positive outlook.

Appeared hopeful

Emphasizes the appearance of hope or positive anticipation linked to a specific subject.

Suggested possibility

Highlights the suggestion or indication of a potential positive outcome or development.

Portended well

Uses a more formal and literary expression to indicate a positive future outlook or favorable prediction.

Boded well

Similar to "portended well", this phrase suggests a favorable sign or indication of future success.

Presented potential

Focuses on the presentation or showcasing of inherent potential within a specific context.

Seemed encouraging

Highlights the encouraging or reassuring aspect of something that suggests a positive future.

Gave reason for optimism

Indicates that there was a basis or rationale for being optimistic about a particular situation or outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "held promise" in a sentence?

You can use "held promise" to indicate that something showed potential or hope in the past. For example, "The initial results of the experiment "held promise" for a breakthrough."

What's the difference between "held promise" and "holds promise"?

"Held promise" refers to a past situation where something showed potential, while "holds promise" refers to a current situation. The phrase "This research "holds promise"" suggests current potential, unlike, "This research "held promise"" which refers to a past expectation.

What are some alternatives to using "held promise"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "showed potential", "offered hope", or "looked promising".

Is it correct to say "holded promise" instead of "held promise"?

No, "holded" is not the correct past tense of "hold". The correct past tense form is "held". Therefore, ""held promise"" is the grammatically correct phrase.