vote

[ voht ]

noun

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!

verb (used without object)

, vot·ed, vot·ing.

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)

, vot·ed, vot·ing.

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

/ 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

   do not take a vote

   it came to a vote

   it was put to the 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

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)

   vote for me!

   we voted that it was time to adjourn

   to vote by ballot

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)

   he was voted out of office

   they voted him into the presidency

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!

Derived Forms

• ˈvoteless, adjective
• ˈvotable, adjective

Other Words From

• pre·vote noun verb prevoted prevoting
• re·vote verb revoted revoting
• re·vote noun
• un·vot·ed adjective
• un·vot·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vote¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of vote¹

C15: from Latin vōtum a solemn promise, from vovēre to vow

Example Sentences

During this year’s Democratic primaries, it took days and sometimes weeks for the bulk of votes to get counted.

From Washington Post

Democrats also won a majority of votes in Senate races in 2016, but again, Republicans secured a majority.

From Vox

Yeah, but we don’t know where these freaking votes came from.

From Washington Post

Still, the vote is significant because it indicates the breadth of congressional support for tearing down the PACER paywall.

From Ars Technica

McDonald’s appealed, and last December, the labor board reversed the judge’s decision and authorized the settlement, with Emanuel again casting the deciding vote in a 2-1 opinion.

From ProPublica

Weiss is likely to get confirmed even as Warren and a handful of other progressive Democrats vote no.

From The Daily Beast

Asian-Americans may vote for Democrats now, but they are a highly persuadable—and growing—part of the electorate.

From The Daily Beast

In 1992, Republican George H.W. Bush won the Asian-American vote by 24 points.

From The Daily Beast

By 2012, Democratic President Barack Obama owned the Asian-American vote, winning it by 47 percentage points.

From The Daily Beast

But after winning 55 percent of the white vote, Duke had a database of supporters some politicians coveted.

From The Daily Beast

The bill to remove the civil disabilities of the Jews rejected in the British parliament by a vote of 288 to 165.

From Project Gutenberg

They can, and they will, vote themselves and their friends or adherents into the good jobs and the high places.

From Project Gutenberg

Only a creditor who owns a demand or provable claim can vote at creditors' meetings.

From Project Gutenberg

If a portion of a creditor's debt is secured and a portion is unsecured, he may vote on the unsecured portion.

From Project Gutenberg

An appeal by a member of a subordinate lodge from a vote of expulsion does not abate by his death while the appeal is pending.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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