vote

verb

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\ ˈvōt

voted; voting; votes

Definition of vote

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to cast or conduct a vote The class voted by a show of hands. They encouraged everyone to vote in the presidential election. She always votes Republican/Democratic. The committee voted on the proposal. The committee voted against the proposal. The committee voted for the proposal. = The committee voted in favor of the proposal. The Senate voted 51 to 100 to pass the bill. Some representatives voted with the opposing party. The jury voted for acquittal. Who votes for going out to dinner tonight? [=who wants to go out to dinner tonight?]

2a : to vote in a way that helps one financially "… What happens if you vote with your wallet this election year? We'll look at how the numbers in the leading candidate's tax plans add up for you and the nation. …"— Gayle King "… The economy was doing well and people often vote with their pocketbooks. …"— Tara Setmayer

b : to express an opinion If our customers don't like our products, they will vote with their wallets/pocketbooks. [=they will not buy our products] "Consumers vote with their dollars and corporations listen," [Bettina] Siegel tells Newsweek …— Elijah Wolfson When the restaurant changed its menu, many former customers voted with their feet.[=expressed their disapproval or dissatisfaction by leaving]

transitive verb

1 : to choose, endorse, decide the disposition of, defeat, or authorize (someone or something) by vote He was voted out of office. Legislators voted the bill into law. The contestant was voted off the show. It was voted that residents will have to pay a trash collection fee. The issue was finally settled by a joint resolution … voting appropriations for the damages …— Gerald P. Fogarty The proposal was voted down. She was voted in (as vice president) last year. She was voted out (of office) last year. They were voted on/onto the committee. The proposal was voted through. [=the proposal was passed]

2a : to adjudge (something) by general agreement : declare Everyone voted that it was the best tea this year.— André Bieler

b : to offer (something) as a suggestion : propose I vote we all go home.

3a : to cause (someone) to vote in a given way

b : to cause (something, such as a proxy vote) to be cast for or against a proposal

4 : to vote in accordance with or in the interest of vote your conscience People tend to vote their pocketbooks/wallets.

vote

noun

plural votes

Definition of vote (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a usually formal expression of opinion or will in response to a proposed decision especially : one given as an indication of approval or disapproval of a proposal, motion, or candidate for office An Oregon City Schools operations levy appeared poised for defeat with 2,119 votes against and 1,630 votes in favor. — Kate Snyder

b : the total number of such expressions of opinion made known at a single time (as at an election) —usually used with the tallying the voteThe candidate won only 10 percent of the vote.

c : an expression of opinion or preference that resembles a vote a vote of support/thanks

d : ballot sense 1 counting the votes People waited in line to cast their votes.

2 : the collective opinion or verdict of a body of persons expressed by voting : the result of a vote The vote was in his favor. She won by a vote of 206 to 57.

3 : the right to cast a vote specifically : the right of suffrage : franchise —usually used with the In 1920, American women won the vote.

4a : the act or process of voting Let's take a vote. brought the question to a vote The issue never came to a vote. The referendum will be put to a vote.

b : a method of voting The amendment was passed by a voice vote.

5 : a formal expression of a wish, will, or choice voted by a meeting The congressional votes in January authorizing U.S. military action before the ground war began have probably set a precedent …, according to [Les] Aspin.— Don Oberdorfer

6a : voter the undecided votes

b : a group of voters with some common and identifying characteristics the labor vote made appeals to the youth/independent vote

c : the whole group of people in an area who have the right to vote Volunteers for her campaign helped get out the vote [=persuade people to go vote] on Election Day.

7 chiefly British

a : a proposition to be voted on especially : a legislative money item

b : appropriation … prisons had to be equipped and staff paid out of the annual votes for the naval services.— Olive Anderson — see also casting vote, vote of no confidence

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing vote Learn More About vote

Examples of vote in a Sentence

Verb Citizens will vote today for their new governor. Did you vote in the last election? The committee hasn't yet voted on the matter. Congress voted 121 to 16 to pass the bill. He voted against the proposal. They voted the referendum into law. Senators voted themselves a pay raise despite the budget shortfall. We have to decide what to do about dinner. I vote that we get a pizza. Noun They are counting the votes now. There are 20 votes in favor and 12 against. He got 56 percent of the votes. She's campaigning hard to raise money and win votes. People waited in line to cast their votes. I cast my vote for the Republican candidate. The vote was in her favor. She won by a vote of 206 to 57. In 1920, American women won the vote. The candidate won only 10 percent of the vote. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The House also is expected to vote on emergency funding to help end the shortage. — Arkansas Online, 14 May 2022 The House was originally expected to vote on whether to concur with the Senate’s version of the budget on Wednesday. — Nathaniel Herz, Anchorage Daily News, 14 May 2022 Of the five justices expected to vote for overturning Roe v. Wade, Kavanaugh is thought of as the most moderate and therefore swingable. — Washington Post, 11 May 2022 The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on a bill that would codify Roe into law. — Donovan Slack, USA TODAY, 11 May 2022 The commission is expected to vote on the change in the coming weeks. — Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 8 May 2022 Separately, all eyes on Monday had been on the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, which had been expected to vote on a recommendation for clemency in Lucio's case. — Dakin Andone, CNN, 26 Apr. 2022 The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday to pass the plan, which would boost Republican representation in Congress for the next decade. — Jim Turner, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2022 The resulting efforts can be directed at groups expected to vote for the president’s party and may take the form of pressure to support the party or its policies. — Tarren Bragdon And Stewart Whitson, WSJ, 19 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The bipartisan measure passed by 35-1 with the only negative vote from Sen. Dennis Bradley, a Bridgeport Democrat who said that more money must be spent on education in order to reduce crime. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 4 May 2022 The governing board would consider whether to bring the measure to the ballot again, Wilson said in a letter to staff after the vote's failure. — Yana Kunichoff, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2022 Office Russell Hollis said thatturnout number could change when additional absentee ballots and outstanding vote center ballots are tallied Wednesday afternoon. — Claire Rafford, The Indianapolis Star, 4 May 2022 The vote takes place as Johnson and his governing Conservatives are surrounded by scandals and crises so bad that members of his own party have publicly called for his resignation. — Luke Mcgee, CNN, 4 May 2022 Election results from the Associated Press showed that Mr. Vance had built big vote margins in parts of the state that strongly supported Mr. Trump. — Aaron Zitner, WSJ, 4 May 2022 Although this latest unionization vote involved only a small number of workers at Amazon, the decision not to unionize is a colossal win for Amazon. — Shelley E. Kohan, Forbes, 3 May 2022 By overwhelming agreement of the 100 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the league and vote on season-ending awards, that’s what Herro was. — oregonlive, 3 May 2022 Indeed, justices routinely tweak their opinions up until the final moment, and majorities that emerge during the first vote after oral arguments can change while the opinions are drafted. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, 3 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vote.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.