# vote

/ˈvoʊt/ (US) · /vˈəʊt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vote
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a formal choice

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'cast', 'take', or 'win'.

### 2. the right to choose

noun · CEFR B2

the legal right to participate in an election.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to cast a ballot

verb · CEFR B1

to make your choice official in an election or meeting.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to decide by agreement

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I need to cast my vote before the polls close.
- The committee held a secret vote to decide who would become the next chairperson of the organization.
- After weeks of intense campaigning, the final vote revealed a deeply divided electorate, with the winning candidate securing only a narrow majority of the total ballots cast.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.