57 Across

NYT Daily • August 22, 2025

Brothers-to-be

Answer:

PLEDGES

Hint:

They’re the newest members of a fraternity before officially earning their letters.

Explanation:

"Brothers-to-be" refers to people who are in the process of joining a fraternity but haven’t been fully initiated yet. In fraternity culture, these members are called "pledges" because they’ve pledged to join but are still proving themselves before becoming full "brothers." The answer "PLEDGES" fits because it’s the standard term for this probationary stage, blending the literal meaning of commitment with the specific fraternity context.

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