vow

American  

[vou] / vaʊ /

noun

1. a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment.

   marriage vows; a vow of secrecy.

2. a solemn promise made to a deity or saint committing oneself to an act, service, or condition.

3. a solemn or earnest declaration.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make a vow of; promise by a vow, as to God or a saint.

   to vow a crusade or a pilgrimage.

2. to pledge or resolve solemnly to do, make, give, observe, etc..

   They vowed revenge.

3. to declare solemnly or earnestly; assert emphatically (often followed by a clause as object).

   She vowed that she would take the matter to court.

4. to dedicate or devote by a vow.

   to vow oneself to the service of God.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a vow.

2. to make a solemn or earnest declaration.

idioms

1. take vows, to enter a religious order or house.

vow British  

/ vaʊ /

noun

1. a solemn or earnest pledge or promise binding the person making it to perform a specified act or behave in a certain way

2. a solemn promise made to a deity or saint, by which the promiser pledges himself to some future act, course of action, or way of life

3. to enter a religious order and commit oneself to its rule of life by the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, which may be taken for a limited period as simple vows or as a perpetual and still more solemn commitment as solemn vows

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verb

1. (tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to pledge, promise, or undertake solemnly

   he vowed that he would continue

   he vowed to return

2. (tr) to dedicate or consecrate to God, a deity, or a saint

3. (tr; usually takes a clause as object) to assert or swear emphatically

4. archaic (intr) to declare solemnly

Other Word Forms

• unvowed adjective
• vower noun
• vowless adjective

Etymology

Origin of vow

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French vo ( u ) < Latin vōtum, neuter of vōtus, past participle of vovēre to vow

Example Sentences

Scrutiny of hospice care has intensified, grabbing the attention of the federal government, which is vowing to decertify companies that are overbilling, stealing identities or charging for services never provided.

From MarketWatch

The destination weddings have tapered off since Covid, but the hotel is seeing a spate of destination proposals and destination vow renewals.

From The Wall Street Journal

They conclude that it signals toughness—and vow to outdo him.

From The Wall Street Journal

He vows he’ll never visit New York, and she refuses to give up her annual vacations to Italy.

From Salon

Critics have called for the resignation of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who had vowed to improve the capital's drainage and road infrastructure when he took office in 2022.

From Barron's

Related Words

• affirm
• assure
• declare
• promise
• swear