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

There they found a doctor with a more optimistic outlook, who vowed he would do everything possible to help Dio beat cancer.

From Los Angeles Times

The gains point to the big opportunity investors see for private prison operators as Trump vows to round up and deport millions of migrants.

From BBC

A former civil rights attorney, Price was elected two years ago after vowing to bring criminal justice reform to the prosecutor’s office.

From Los Angeles Times

“But where the pope was going to be elected, she was going to be faithful to her vow. She just wants it all done correctly.”

From Los Angeles Times

But the slaying of Arcos, who had vowed to pacify the region, was particularly grisly.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• affirm
• assure
• declare
• promise
• swear