vow

1 of 3

noun

: a solemn promise or assertion
specifically : one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition

vow

2 of 3

verb (1)

vowed; vowing; vows

transitive verb

1
: to promise solemnly : swear
2
: to bind or consecrate by a vow

intransitive verb

: to make a vow
vower noun

vow

3 of 3

verb (2)

vowed; vowing; vows

Examples of vow in a Sentence

Noun The monks take a vow of silence. The bride and groom exchanged vows. The mayor made a vow to reduce crime.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And, of course, the letter Brennan wrote to Booth eventually made for a great wedding vow. Kelly Connolly, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024 Our Lady of Sorrows, a hospice for infirm and dying nuns (conveniently built over ancient catacombs!), to take her vows. Jen Yamato, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 The couple exchanged their vows under the Maldivian sunset, and afterwards, guests gathered for dinner and to listen to heartfelt speeches from family and friends. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 The couple renewed their vows on their 25th wedding anniversary in 2015. Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 Virginia's first 420 Wedding The festival will also host Virginia's first 420 wedding at Misty Mountain Camp Resort, where Dawn and Seth, winners of our 420 Wedding Contest, will exchange vows in a symbolic ceremony at 4:20 PM on April 20th. Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024 Ceremony and reception: AI could produce the wedding vows, create a virtual reality reception with fashionable decorations and attire, officiate the ceremony and DJ the music. Brent Dykes, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 The couple wrote their own vows and kept them secret ahead of the ceremony. Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2024 Beyond that, Trump’s policy positions, such as his vows to create massive internment camps and deport millions of unauthorized immigrants, including many who have lived in the U.S. for decades, aren’t going to sound like stability to many voters. David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
His opponent Faye, who has equally promised to create jobs, campaigned strongly against corruption, and vowed to reexamine energy contracts as Senegal prepares the launch of its oil and gas production later in the year. Nimi Princewill, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 In the meantime, Netanyahu has done plenty of talking himself -- defiantly rejecting Biden's demands and vowing to move ahead with the operation in a public address to members of his government, and even meeting virtually with Senate Republicans to discuss the state of the conflict in Gaza. Shannon K. Crawford, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024 But Trump vowed to fight the judgment through the court system. Brooke Singman, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2024 In his letter, Youngkin vowed not to sign a tax increase. Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 The Women's Cancer Fund raised $18.3 million by vowing to help patients, telling donors that their money would help pay the living expenses of women going through treatment for the disease. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024 While the Thai government has repeatedly vowed to crack down on the scam centers, both KK Park and Kings Roman remain plugged into the Thai electricity grid and utilize their telecoms networks. TIME, 21 Mar. 2024 Netanyahu vowed to Senate Republicans to continue Israel's war in Gaza. USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 Times columnist Doyle McManus took a look at Trump’s rhetoric and vows about the Golden State and wrote about what might be in store. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
While Feinstein on Wednesday vowed to return to the Capitol before retiring at the end of her term in early 2025, Black leaders in California wonder if the governor’s sincerity remains. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2023 Archways are dotted throughout the main living room, which is overlooked by a Juliet balcony on the first floor, while the recessed shelves are full of photographs, vintage finds and books, including the books the couple read their wedding vows from. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2023 These Sikhs vow to live by the principles of Sikhism, including remembrance of God, truthful living, service to humanity and standing up against tyranny and injustice, Gill said. Grace Hauck, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2023 Republicans have decried the charges as being politically motivated, vowing to investigate Bragg and his office. Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2023 The documents contain purportedly private conversations between senior South Korean officials about Ukraine, indicating that Washington may have conducted surveillance on a key Asian ally even as the two nations publicly vowed to reinforce their alliance. Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Apr. 2023 The search for a missing 6-year-old Texas boy who hasn't been seen since October is now a death investigation, police said Thursday, while vowing to find his body. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2023 That message was echoed on pro-Trump extremist forums, where users lamented the charges against Trump and vowed revenge. Isaac Stanley-Becker and Jacqueline Alemany, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Apr. 2023 Policymakers share this view and vow to act, even when so often those promises don’t come to fruition. Ron Avi Astor, CNN, 3 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English vowe, from Anglo-French vou, from Latin votum, from neuter of votus, past participle of vovēre to vow; akin to Greek euchesthai to pray, vow, Sanskrit vāghat sacrificer

Verb (2)

Middle English, short for avowen

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vow was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near vow

Cite this Entry

“Vow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vow. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vow

1 of 2 noun
: a solemn promise or statement

vow

2 of 2 verb
1
: to make a vow or as a vow
2
: to bind or make holy by a vow

Legal Definition

vow

1 of 2 noun
: a solemn promise or statement
especially : one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition

vow

2 of 2 transitive verb
1
: to promise solemnly
2
: to bind or commit by a vow

intransitive verb

: to make a vow
vower noun

More from Merriam-Webster on vow

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