# vow

/ˈvaʊ/ (US) · /vˈaʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vow
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a solemn promise

noun · CEFR B2

a serious promise to do something or to live in a certain way.

For teachers: a solemn promise or pledge, especially one made to a deity or a religious order.

- The monks took a vow of silence and did not speak for the entire year.
- Upon entering the monastery, the novices took a formal vow of poverty, renouncing all personal possessions in favour of communal living.

### 2. marriage promise

noun · CEFR B2

the formal promises two people make to each other during a wedding.

For teachers: the solemn promises exchanged between partners during a marriage ceremony.

- They wrote their own wedding vows to make the ceremony more personal.
- The couple stood before their families to exchange their marriage vows, promising to support one another through all future hardships.

### 3. to promise solemnly

verb · CEFR B2

to make a very serious promise to yourself or others.

For teachers: to make a solemn or formal promise; often used with a following infinitive or 'that' clause.

- After the accident, he vowed to never drive while tired again.
- The candidate vowed that she would reform the tax system within her first hundred days in office, despite significant opposition from her own party.

Usage: often followed by 'to' and a verb, or a 'that' clause.

## Examples

- The couple exchanged a vow of love during the ceremony.
- After years of working in the city, he took a vow of silence and moved to a remote monastery.
- The knight's solemn vow to protect the kingdom was tested when he was forced to choose between his personal honor and the safety of the crown.

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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.