vote

American  

[voht] / voʊt /

noun

• votes
  plural

1. a formal expression of opinion or choice made by an individual or body of individuals, especially in an election.

2. the means by which such expression is made, as a ballot, ticket, or show of hands.

3. the right to such expression.

   The 19th Amendment gave women the vote.

4. the total number of votes cast.

   The heavy vote was a result of a new law that allows mailed-in ballots to be scanned days in advance of the close of voting.

5. the decision reached by voting, as by a majority of ballots cast.

   The vote was in favor of the resolution.

6. a particular group of voters, or their collective expression of will as inferred from their votes.

   Two large unions endorsed the candidate on Monday, as he continues to court the labor vote.

7. an informal expression of approval, agreement, or judgment.

   My vote is for pepperoni—anchovies on pizza are gross!

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verb (used without object)

• votes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• voted,
  past participle,  past
• voting
  present participle

1. to express or signify will or choice in a matter, as by casting a ballot: Don’t blame me if this film gives you nightmares—I voted for the romcom.

   Only three Republicans broke with their party to vote against the measure.

   Don’t blame me if this film gives you nightmares—I voted for the romcom.

verb (used with object)

• votes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• voted,
  past participle,  past
• voting
  present participle

1. to enact, establish, or determine by vote.

   Threats were made against members of Congress who voted the bill into law.

2. to support by one's vote.

   When Susan B. Anthony defied the law and voted in 1872, she proudly voted the Republican ticket.

3. to advocate by or as if by one's vote: I vote we go to Disney World.

   The committee voted that the report be accepted.

   I vote we go to Disney World.

4. to declare or decide by general consent.

   They voted the trip a success.

5. to encourage or cause to vote, especially in a particular way.

vote British  

/ vəʊt /

noun

1. an indication of choice, opinion, or will on a question, such as the choosing of a candidate, by or as if by some recognized means, such as a ballot

   10 votes for Jones

2. the opinion of a group of persons as determined by voting

   it was put to the vote

   do not take a vote

   it came to a vote

3. a body of votes or voters collectively

   the Jewish vote

4. the total number of votes cast

   the vote decreased at the last election

5. the ticket, ballot, etc, by which a vote is expressed

6. 1. the right to vote; franchise; suffrage

   2. a person regarded as the embodiment of this right

7. a means of voting, such as a ballot

8. a grant or other proposition to be voted upon

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verb

1. (when tr, takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to express or signify (one's preference, opinion, or will) (for or against some question, etc)

   to vote by ballot

   we voted that it was time to adjourn

   vote for me!

2. (intr) to declare oneself as being (something or in favour of something) by exercising one's vote

   to vote socialist

3. (tr; foll by into or out of, etc) to appoint or elect (a person to or from a particular post)

   they voted him into the presidency

   he was voted out of office

4. (tr) to determine the condition of in a specified way by voting

   the court voted itself out of existence

5. (tr) to authorize, confer, or allow by voting

   vote us a rise

6. informal (tr) to declare by common opinion

   the party was voted a failure

7. (tr) to influence or control the voting of

   do not try to vote us!

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prevote
  noun
• revote
  noun
• revote
  verb
• unvoted
  adjective
• unvoting
  adjective
• votable
  adjective
• voteless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• votes
  plural

Participles

• voting
  present
• voted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• vote
  simple
• votes
  simple
• have voted
  perfect
• has voted
  perfect
• am voting
  progressive
• are voting
  progressive
• is voting
  progressive
• have been voting
  perfect progressive
• has been voting
  perfect progressive

Past

• voted
  simple
• had voted
  perfect
• was voting
  progressive
• were voting
  progressive
• had been voting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will vote
  simple
• will have voted
  perfect
• will be voting
  progressive
• will have been voting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of vote

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English noun from Latin vōtum “a vow made to a deity; prayer, desire, hope”; see also vow

Explanation

Your vote is your official choice on some specific question. You might feel that your vote hardly counts in a Presidential election, though your vote for student council treasurer might feel like it has a lot more importance. A vote is a formal noting of your preference, in an online poll or sitting in a circle with your book group, or when you cast it on a ballot at a polling place. To voice that preference is also to vote, either officially or more casually: "Let's all vote on a group costume for Halloween this year — a bag of jelly beans or the seven dwarfs?" The Latin root of vote is votum, "a vow, wish, or promise."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vote votes voted voting

Khan was prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before being removed in a no-confidence vote during a political crisis over tensions between his government and Pakistan's powerful military establishment.

From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026

“The right to vote is the right from which all other rights flow. It’s fundamental. We need to protect it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

Senate majority leader John Thune scheduled a floor vote on the bill for Sept. 15.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The report says the Census Bureau matched the Data-Clear voter files with federal immigration records to determine if people were citizens and eligible to vote.

From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2026

So two cuco attacks, nearly a month apart, both on the night town councils were set to vote on a bill about Spares.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

There are over 100,000 Jews in Michigan, and Rogers lost his 2024 Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by less than 20,000 votes.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

During the “Power Hour” between 1-2 p.m. from Aug. 20 to Sept. 25, votes count double per category.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Then the board of directors, consisting of 15 members and led by the country club’s president, former AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson, votes up or down, one member said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Before Clacton, his best results were more than 24,000 votes in the last two London mayoral elections.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

The initial ballot put Chicago ahead by a big margin, with 115 votes to New York’s 72.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Wolf Pen was set up to ensure that family members voted their shares in unison.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace said Friday its members also voted to allow the union’s negotiation team to authorize a strike until its concerns are addressed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

In San Francisco, California, residents in 2022 voted for an Empty Homes Tax, which required owners to pay between $2,500 to $20,000 for apartments that are vacant for six months or more.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz fired his economy minister on Friday after legislators voted to remove him for failing to appear before Congress to answer questions about his handling of a severe economic crisis.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

The membership voted against supporting the principle of educated suffrage.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

The White House said it wouldn’t respond to hypothetical questions about the midterm election, but said anyone who breaks voting laws will be held accountable.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

There are another 290 million class B shares that have no voting rights.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

"Celebrities are voting for the Greek summer!" public broadcaster ERT said on Friday, devoting a report to these stars from across the Atlantic.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

The next round of federal campaign fundraising data will not be available until mid-October, just before early voting begins.

From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026

Soldiers deserted by the tens of thousands, voting for peace with their feet as they headed for home.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• choose
• declare
• determine
• elect
• enact
• establish
• grant
• propose
• recommend
• return