Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

vow

[vou]
See more synonyms for vow on Thesaurus.com
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.
Show More
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.
Show More
verb (used without object)
  1. to make a vow.
  2. to make a solemn or earnest declaration.
Show More
Idioms
  1. take vows, to enter a religious order or house.
Show More

Origin of vow

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French vo(u) < Latin vōtum, neuter of vōtus, past participle of vovēre to vow
Related formsvow·er, nounvow·less, adjectiveun·vowed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

oathpledgeassertionassureswearpromisedeclareaffirmprofessionasseverationtrothaffiancecovenantdevotededicatetestifyvouchconsecrateplightwarrant

Examples from the Web for vow

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The quality of sincerity in Dick's voice was more convincing than any vow might have been.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • And it was true I could have snatched the meat from her like a wolf, but because of my vow I would not.

    The Trail Book

    Mary Austin

  • I brought sickness on the village, and on you hunger and the breaking of your vow.'

    The Trail Book

    Mary Austin

  • Who had exacted from her so strange a vow, that, although he might be very dear to her, she was never to let him know it?

    The Dream

    Emile Zola

  • The student of nature in all the ages has taken the vow of poverty.

British Dictionary definitions for vow

vow

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
Show More
verb
  1. (tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to pledge, promise, or undertake solemnlyhe 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. (intr) archaic to declare solemnly
Show More
Derived Formsvower, nounvowless, adjective

Word Origin

C13: from Old French vou, from Latin vōtum a solemn promise, from vovēre to vow
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vow

n.

c.1300, from Anglo-French and Old French vou, from Latin votum "a vow, wish, promise, dedication," noun use of neuter of votus, past participle of vovere "to promise solemnly, pledge, dedicate, vow," from PIE root *ewegwh- "to speak solemnly, vow" (cf. Sanskrit vaghat- "one who offers a sacrifice;" Greek eukhe "vow, wish," eukhomai "I pray").

Show More

v.

c.1300, from Old French vouer, from vou (see vow (n.)). Related: Vowed; vowing.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper