What does "vote" mean?

1. (a formal choice) the formal choice you make in an election or meeting, often by marking a piece of paper. 2. (the right to choose) the legal right to participate in an election. 3. (to cast a ballot) to make your choice official in an election or meeting. 4. (to decide by agreement) to agree as a group that something is true or should happen.

vote — meaning, definition & examples

Q: Is it correct to say "I made a vote for him"?

No — say "I cast a vote for him". In formal contexts, the verb 'cast' is the standard collocation for the act of voting, rather than 'make'.

Word

01a formal choice

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the formal choice you make in an election or meeting, often by marking a piece of paper.

n. a formal expression of opinion or will in response to a proposed decision, typically recorded by ballot or show of hands.

“The committee will take a vote on the new budget tomorrow morning.”

“The final vote was split along party lines, resulting in a narrow victory for the proposed environmental legislation.”

Synonyms

ballot choice poll

02the right to choose

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Law

n. the legal right to participate in an election.

n. the collective right or franchise to participate in a democratic election.

“In many countries, people fought for decades to win the vote.”

“Universal suffrage ensures that every adult citizen possesses the vote, regardless of their socio-economic status or property ownership.”

Synonyms

suffrage franchise

03to cast a ballot

B1 · Intermediate

v. to make your choice official in an election or meeting.

v. to express a formal preference in an election or on a specific motion.

“Millions of people went to the polls to vote for a new president.”

“Citizens are encouraged to vote in every local election to ensure their specific community needs are addressed by the council.”

Synonyms

elect ballot

04to decide by agreement

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to agree as a group that something is true or should happen.

v. to decide or enact something by a majority or general consensus.

“The students voted the party a huge success after everyone had a great time.”

“The board voted to increase the research budget by ten percent to accelerate the development of the new prototype.”

Synonyms

resolve decree

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “vote” in context.

Verb

01. cast vote

“Millions of citizens went to the polls to cast their vote in the general election.”

verb + noun

02. count vote

“Officials spent all night in the hall to count every single vote.”

verb + noun

03. vote counts

“In a close election like this one, every single vote counts.”

noun + verb

04. vote decides

“The final vote decides which law will be implemented next year.”

noun + verb

Adjective

05. decisive vote

“The chairman cast the decisive vote to approve the new building project.”

adj + noun

06. secret vote

“Members were asked to participate in a secret vote to ensure privacy.”

adj + noun

07. unanimous vote

“The committee reached a unanimous vote to change the club rules.”

adj + noun

Noun

08. right to vote

“Protesters marched through the city demanding the right to vote for all adults.”

noun + prep + noun

09. vote of confidence

“The manager received a vote of confidence from the board despite the losses.”

noun + prep + noun

10. call for a vote

“The opposition leader decided to call for a vote on the new tax policy.”

11. put it to a vote

“Since we cannot agree, let's put it to a vote and see what the majority wants.”

12. win by a landslide vote

“The popular mayor won by a landslide vote in the local elections.”

Commonly used with the verbs 'cast', 'win', or 'lose'. Often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'against'.

I made a vote for him

I cast a vote for him

In formal contexts, the verb 'cast' is the standard collocation for the act of voting, rather than 'make'.

“Those eligible to vote – United States citizens – can register to vote, or vote in person beginning on Sept. 24 at:”

Reuters 18 Sept 2026

“Voting got underway on Friday (September 18) in a three-day parliamentary election in Russia which President Vladimir Putin has framed as a barometer of support for Russia's war in Ukraine.”

Reuters 18 Sept 2026