vow

[ vou ]

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.

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.

vow

/ 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. take vows
   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

verb

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

   he vowed to return

   he vowed that he would continue

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

Derived Forms

• ˈvowless, adjective
• ˈvower, noun

Other Words From

• vower noun
• vowless adjective
• un·vowed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vow¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of vow¹

C13: from Old French vou, from Latin vōtum a solemn promise, from vovēre to vow

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

Example Sentences

The vow to take down the Bidens, the deep state and the “fake news” media, along with all the screams about retribution from Trump’s nominees, sparked a change of heart in the president.

From Salon

A vow to scrap the two-child benefit cap and changes to basic and intermediate tax thresholds are among the plans for the Scottish government for the next financial year.

From BBC

Although Kennedy’s penchant for amplifying medical conspiracies and his anti-vaccination activism have alarmed many public health experts, his vow to crack down on chemical additives in food has resonated with consumer health advocates.

From Los Angeles Times

The president-elect’s vow to stop the war may lead to concessions to Putin, including divisions of territory, which have a bloody history.

From Los Angeles Times

“When we got married we made a vow, for better or worse, in sickness and in health,” says Eppy.

From BBC

Related Words

• affirm
• assure
• declare
• promise
• swear