plural vows
: a serious promise to do something or to behave in a certain way
The monks take a vow of silence/chastity/poverty.
marriage/wedding vows
The bride and groom exchanged vows.
The mayor made a vow to reduce crime.
vows; vowed; vowing
: to make a serious promise to do something or to behave in a certain way
—often followed by to + verb
The mayor vowed to reduce crime.
I vow to honor and cherish you all my days.
—often + thatI vowed that I would never lie to her again.
Cite this Entry
“Vow.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/vow. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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