vow

noun

\ ˈvau̇

Definition of vow

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a solemn promise or assertion specifically : one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition

vow

verb (1)

vowed; vowing; vows

Definition of vow (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to promise solemnly : swear

2 : to bind or consecrate by a vow

intransitive verb

: to make a vow

vow

verb (2)

vowed; vowing; vows

Definition of vow (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

: avow, declare

Other Words from vow Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about vow

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Synonyms for vow

Synonyms: Noun

oath, pledge, promise, troth, word

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: Noun

Waka Flocka Flame and his wife Tammy are starting fresh after renewing their vows in Cancun, Mexico. — Jasmine Grant, Essence, "Angela Simmons Reveals Why She Split With Bow Wow," 27 June 2019 The couples — some of them renewing their vows while others were exchanging them for the first time — are worshipers at the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary, also known as the Sanctuary Church. — Kristine Phillips, Washington Post, "With crowns on their heads and AR-15s in their arms, couples exchange vows in pro-gun church," 1 Mar. 2018 Some investors may have appreciated Musk's vow of silence on Twitter: Tesla's share price increased nearly 2.5% in Monday morning trading to about $220. — CBS News, "Elon Musk: "Just deleted my Twitter account," says Tesla founder," 17 June 2019 The couple wrote their own vows, Estelle performed American Boy, and guests like Oprah (duh) and Dr. Oz mingled with Nate and Jeremiah's families. — Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, "A Brief Timeline of Nate Berkus & Jeremiah Brent's Relationship," 3 May 2019 The nuptial rituals feel similarly stale and unkillable: the proposal, the vows, the first dance. — Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, "People Are Still Getting Married, and This Book Is Here to Help," 10 June 2019 The 46-year-old Luther star and 30-year-old former Miss Vancouver exchanged vows on April 26, and the photos of their big day are a thing of beauty. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Gave the Coolest Wedding Gift to Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre," 29 Apr. 2019 The royal wedding began at 7 am Eastern Time/4 am Pacific time, but nevertheless, 29.2 million people in the US watched Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say their vows in front of a collection of Harry’s royal connections and Markle’s Hollywood pals. — Constance Grady, Vox, "Almost 30 million people watched the royal wedding on US broadcast alone," 21 May 2018 After saying their vows inside of St. George’s Chapel on Saturday, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sealed their union with the royal wedding first kiss. — Megan Mccluskey, Time, "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding Kiss Was a Smooch to Remember," 19 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Months have passed since Juana Flores’ return to Mexico, but activists, lawyers and retired judges have vowed to fight to bring her back. — Brittny Mejia, latimes.com, "Deported airman’s mother inspires bill to protect ‘patriot parents’," 11 July 2019 Chinese officials have vowed to step up enforcement. — Keith Bradsher, New York Times, "A Billionaire’s Fall Spotlights Child Sexual Abuse in China," 9 July 2019 His government was forced to court powerful militias for its own protection, and these groups have vowed to repel Hifter’s forces. — Washington Post, "In Libya, a rogues’ gallery of militias," 3 July 2019 But opponents, spearheaded by the state manufacturers’ alliance, have vowed to gather enough signatures to put the tax before voters. — Hillary Borrud | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive.com, "Oregon Republicans not making clear whether they’ll return to Salem, what they want to get them back," 26 June 2019 Other presidential candidates, like Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Andrew Yang, have also vowed to use the president’s pardon and clemency powers to help low-level drug offenders. — German Lopez, Vox, "Cory Booker has a plan to reform the criminal justice system — without Congress," 20 June 2019 Environmentalists have already vowed to battle the replacement rule in federal court, setting up potential legal wrangling that could last years. — Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Fortune, "Why Trump's EPA Rollback to End 'War on Coal' Won't Rescue the Industry," 19 June 2019 Critics have vowed to oppose the clinic and will try to convince the Alabama Department of Public Health to deny it a license. — Fox News, "Planned Parenthood building large women's clinic in Alabama despite abortion law," 16 June 2019 Governor, some of your male competitors have vowed to put a woman on the ticket. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "John Hickenlooper Wants to Know Why Women Candidates Aren’t Asked About Picking Male VPs," 21 Mar. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

In 2013, Prince Harry vowed to continue his mother’s lifelong mission to rid Angola of all landmines. — Omid Scobie, Harper's BAZAAR, "Prince Harry Gives Stirring Speech on Angola Landmine Clearance: "There Is an End in Sight"," 17 June 2019 Shangri-La is a tough place to check out of, but the Warriors leave it with their heads up, vowing to return, and on their way out the door, giving full credit to the Toronto Raptors. — Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, "For Warriors, is this the end of a dream or just a rude interruption?," 13 June 2019 But Harrison vows to institute better training and better controls. — Justin Fenton, baltimoresun.com, "How can Baltimore Police prevent corruption after GTTF? For starters, some say, get rid of plainclothes units.," 13 June 2019 In a statement tied to the bankruptcy filing, Insys vowed to continue operating its business using cash on hand and cash flow. — Russ Wiles, azcentral, "Insys Therapeutics in Chandler files for bankruptcy following opioid lawsuits, investigations," 10 June 2019 As many as 18 states, including California, have vowed to sue if the freeze is finalized. — William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al.com, "Most of Alabama’s automakers want Trump to rethink emissions standards," 7 June 2019 But the Mütter vows to preserve its beloved 19th-century flavor. — Ray Boyd, https://www.inquirer.com, "Overdose death changes two families forever; The future of Germantown High School | Morning Newsletter," 6 June 2019 But after the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. James E. Risch, R-Idaho, vowed to personally intervene on the issue at an open hearing last month, the Energy Department provided the information. — NBC News, "Trump admin gave green light to nuclear permits for Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi killing," 4 June 2019 Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to loosen Wall Street’s leash, but some of regulators’ most meaningful efforts to revamp post-crisis constraints on big banks are running into problems. — Jesse Hamilton, Bloomberg.com, "Trump's Push to Ease Wall Street Rules Hindered by Missteps," 11 Mar. 2019

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

History and Etymology for vow

Noun

Middle English vowe, from Anglo-French vou, from Latin votum, from neuter of votus, past participle of vovēre to vow; akin to Greek euchesthai to pray, vow, Sanskrit vāghat sacrificer

Verb (2)

Middle English, short for avowen

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