: a solemn promise or assertion
specifically
: one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition
vowed; vowing; vows
: to make a vow
Synonyms
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
Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
The event infamously ends with Ross accidentally saying Rachel’s name during his vows.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
Both Turner and Nist cried throughout their emotional vows.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
What was the best part of renewing your vows last year in Lake Como with Chrissy?
—Melody Chiu, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Several couples in Trenton, Ohio, exchanged wedding vows during the moon’s trek across the sun.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 8 Apr. 2024
But free press advocates say his vow to keep reporters honest is a pretext to intimidate his critics.
—Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
In 1972, about 75 couples who were part of Synanon were encouraged to renew their wedding vows in a mass ceremony.
—Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 7 Apr. 2024
In his address, Mr. Netanyahu also repeated his vow for a military ground offensive in Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than half of territory’s population of 2.3 million now shelters after fleeing fighting elsewhere.
—Melanie Lindman, Wafaa Shurafa, and Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2024
Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Labour leader Keir Starmer, who is expected to become prime minister following a general election this autumn, has vowed to bring in legislation that would cap the price resellers can charge for tickets.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 15 Apr. 2024
Koichi Takano, Kajima’s general manager for the project, vows to finish this chip fab on time too.
—Takashi Mochizuki, Fortune Asia, 15 Apr. 2024
In recent weeks, both publicly and privately, Mr. Johnson repeatedly vowed to ensure that the House would move to assist Ukraine.
—Carl Hulse, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
The Texan had vowed to abandon the tournament if his wife Meredith went into labor, with the due date expected within the next few weeks.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
President Biden vowed to enact sensible, centrist policies, and his administration’s new tailpipe standards are consistent with that promise.
—Peter Douglas, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
The answer would lie in future unknowns, notably how Israel responds – and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate to any attack within its borders – then how Iran and others react to that.
—Javed Ali, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
Israel's arch-enemy Iran has long vowed to completely destroy Israel.
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
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
Noun
That’s why, when Eilidh and Arran part, their bittersweet vow to reunite rings oddly hopeful.
—Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
The event infamously ends with Ross accidentally saying Rachel’s name during his vows.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
Both Turner and Nist cried throughout their emotional vows.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
What was the best part of renewing your vows last year in Lake Como with Chrissy?
—Melody Chiu, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Several couples in Trenton, Ohio, exchanged wedding vows during the moon’s trek across the sun.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 8 Apr. 2024
But free press advocates say his vow to keep reporters honest is a pretext to intimidate his critics.
—Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
In 1972, about 75 couples who were part of Synanon were encouraged to renew their wedding vows in a mass ceremony.
—Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 7 Apr. 2024
In his address, Mr. Netanyahu also repeated his vow for a military ground offensive in Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than half of territory’s population of 2.3 million now shelters after fleeing fighting elsewhere.
—Melanie Lindman, Wafaa Shurafa, and Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2024
Verb
Successive Iranian regimes have vowed to destroy Israel.
—Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Labour leader Keir Starmer, who is expected to become prime minister following a general election this autumn, has vowed to bring in legislation that would cap the price resellers can charge for tickets.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 15 Apr. 2024
Koichi Takano, Kajima’s general manager for the project, vows to finish this chip fab on time too.
—Takashi Mochizuki, Fortune Asia, 15 Apr. 2024
In recent weeks, both publicly and privately, Mr. Johnson repeatedly vowed to ensure that the House would move to assist Ukraine.
—Carl Hulse, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
The Texan had vowed to abandon the tournament if his wife Meredith went into labor, with the due date expected within the next few weeks.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
President Biden vowed to enact sensible, centrist policies, and his administration’s new tailpipe standards are consistent with that promise.
—Peter Douglas, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
The answer would lie in future unknowns, notably how Israel responds – and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate to any attack within its borders – then how Iran and others react to that.
—Javed Ali, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
Israel's arch-enemy Iran has long vowed to completely destroy Israel.
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near vow
Cite this Entry
“Vow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vow. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vow
1 of 2 noun
: a solemn promise or statement
vow
2 of 2 verb1
: to make a vow or as a vow
2
: to bind or make holy by a vow
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