1
a
: a sleeveless garment for the upper body usually worn over a shirt
b
: a protective usually sleeveless garment (such as a life preserver) that extends to the waist
c
: an insulated sleeveless waist-length garment often worn under or in place of a coat
2
a
chiefly British
: a man's sleeveless undershirt
b
: a knitted undershirt for women
3
: a plain or decorative piece used to fill in the front neckline of a woman's outer garment (such as a blouse or dress)
vested; vesting; vests
1
a
: to grant or endow with a particular authority, right, or property
the plan vests workers with pension benefits after 10 years of service
b
: to place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority
especially
: to give to a person a legally fixed immediate right of present or future enjoyment of (such as an estate)
2
: to clothe with or as if with a garment
especially
: to robe in ecclesiastical vestments
Synonyms
Examples of vest in a Sentence
Verb
“By the power vested in me by the state,” intoned the minister, “I now pronounce that you are married”
vested the power to access their retirement accounts with their attorney
Recent Examples on the Web
Compiled Bydemocrat Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 16 Apr. 2024
Priscilla Presley wears a Roberto Cavalli jacket; Riley Keough wears a Roberto Cavalli mini dress; and Lisa Marie Presley wears a Roberto Cavalli satin blouse and vest.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Anderson is keeping the drama’s storyline close to his vest, but the untitled project is part of a mandate at Bay Mills Studios to showcase diverse stories in original TV projects via a first-look deal with Boat Rocker Studios.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
The actress fit right in wearing a white tennis skirt, matching vest and hooded sweater.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
There was no Power Bait in his vest, just Wheatly fly boxes and $40 nippers.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 4 Apr. 2024
As bullets flew, Savannah — wearing a plate vest and a tactical helmet — exited her father’s vehicle.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Savannah did not appear to be wearing a vest or tactical gear.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
But the instinct to keep it close to the vest is understandable.
—Marc Silver, NPR, 30 Mar. 2024
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
Upon his retirement, Calhoun is set to take home a giant going-away present: a $45 million mix of stock awards and options that vest over time.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed on a 1-year deal for $25 million, with a vesting option for a second year.
—Tyler Small, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
One-third of the initial award will be options and two-thirds will be restricted stock units subject to vesting terms.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
Like many tech companies, TikTok awards restricted stock units to its employees that vest over time as part of their compensation.
—Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
That is the governing body normally vested with the power to make decisions for the HOA.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2024
This committee, vested with the responsibility for conducting a thorough assessment of the board’s composition, will be able to identify gaps in diversity – gender, race, ethnicity, qualifications, etc.
—Oludolapo Makinde, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
The Electoral College was conceived, in part, to ensure that the president was elected by upstanding members of the community in each state, increasing the likelihood that the executive’s awesome and thus potentially ruinous powers would be vested in worthy candidates.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 20 Jan. 2024
Noun
At the airport, investigators said, the bomber detonated a 20-pound explosive, probably carried in a backpack or vest, spraying 5mm ball bearings in a tremendous blast that was captured in grainy video images shown to Pentagon reporters.
—Compiled Bydemocrat Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 16 Apr. 2024
Priscilla Presley wears a Roberto Cavalli jacket; Riley Keough wears a Roberto Cavalli mini dress; and Lisa Marie Presley wears a Roberto Cavalli satin blouse and vest.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Anderson is keeping the drama’s storyline close to his vest, but the untitled project is part of a mandate at Bay Mills Studios to showcase diverse stories in original TV projects via a first-look deal with Boat Rocker Studios.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
The actress fit right in wearing a white tennis skirt, matching vest and hooded sweater.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
There was no Power Bait in his vest, just Wheatly fly boxes and $40 nippers.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 4 Apr. 2024
As bullets flew, Savannah — wearing a plate vest and a tactical helmet — exited her father’s vehicle.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Savannah did not appear to be wearing a vest or tactical gear.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
But the instinct to keep it close to the vest is understandable.
—Marc Silver, NPR, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
Last year, the company missed its non-GAAP operating income goal of $13.2 billion, only hitting $9 billion, and the 2023 SY PSUs therefore failed to vest.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
Upon his retirement, Calhoun is set to take home a giant going-away present: a $45 million mix of stock awards and options that vest over time.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed on a 1-year deal for $25 million, with a vesting option for a second year.
—Tyler Small, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
One-third of the initial award will be options and two-thirds will be restricted stock units subject to vesting terms.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
Like many tech companies, TikTok awards restricted stock units to its employees that vest over time as part of their compensation.
—Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
That is the governing body normally vested with the power to make decisions for the HOA.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2024
This committee, vested with the responsibility for conducting a thorough assessment of the board’s composition, will be able to identify gaps in diversity – gender, race, ethnicity, qualifications, etc.
—Oludolapo Makinde, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
The Electoral College was conceived, in part, to ensure that the president was elected by upstanding members of the community in each state, increasing the likelihood that the executive’s awesome and thus potentially ruinous powers would be vested in worthy candidates.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 20 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Vest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vest. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vest
1 of 2 verb1
: to place or give into the possession or control of some person or authority
powers vested in the presidency
2
: to clothe in vestments
vest
2 of 2 noun1
: a sleeveless garment usually worn under a suit coat
2
: a protective garment (as a life preserver) that reaches to the waist
3
: a knitted undershirt for women
Etymology
Verb
Middle English vesten "to give into the possession or control of someone," from early French vestir "to dress with clothes, to give power or authority to," from Latin vestire "to clothe," from vestis "clothing, garment"
Noun
from French veste "robe, garment," from Italian veste (same meaning), from Latin vestis "clothing, garment"
Legal Definition
vest
verb1
: to place in the possession, discretion, or province of some person or authority
all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. Ia timely notice of appeal vests jurisdiction in the appeals court
specifically
: to give to a person a fixed and immediate right of present or future enjoyment of (as an estate)
an interest vested in the beneficiary
2
: to grant or endow with a particular authority, right, or property
vest a judge with discretion
: to become vested
specifically
: to entitle one unconditionally to the payment of pension benefits upon termination or retirement
his pension interest will vest after ten years with the company
compare mature
Etymology
Verb
Anglo-French vestir, literally, to clothe, from Old French, from Latin vestire
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