Word
vow
US/ˈvaʊ/
UK/vˈaʊ/
Definitions
01a solemn promise
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a serious promise to do something or to live in a certain way.
n. a solemn promise or pledge, especially one made to a deity or a religious order.
日本語:誓い※
“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.”
02marriage promise
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun
n. the formal promises two people make to each other during a wedding.
n. the solemn promises exchanged between partners during a marriage ceremony.
日本語:誓い※
“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.”
Synonyms
03to promise solemnly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make a very serious promise to yourself or others.
v. to make a solemn or formal promise; often used with a following infinitive or 'that' clause.
日本語:誓う※
“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.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “vow” in context.
Verb
01. break a vow
“He felt a deep sense of guilt after he realized he had broken a solemn vow.”
verb + noun
02. fulfill a vow
“She traveled to the mountain shrine to fulfill a vow she made years ago.”
verb + noun
03. renew their vows
“The couple decided to renew their vows on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.”
verb + possessive + noun
04. take a vow
“The monks take a vow of silence to focus entirely on their spiritual practice.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. sacred vow
“In many cultures, marriage is considered a sacred vow that should never be taken lightly.”
adj + noun
06. solemn vow
“The president made a solemn vow to protect the constitution at all costs.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. vow of poverty
“By taking a vow of poverty, he gave away all his worldly possessions to the poor.”
noun + of + noun
08. vow of secrecy
“All members of the committee were bound by a strict vow of secrecy regarding the project.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
09. under a vow
“The witness was under a vow to tell the truth during the entire proceedings.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“In 2022 Lula won his third term, defeating Bolsonaro by a razor-thin margin and vowing to rescue the country from “one of the worst periods in Brazilian history”.” “US president announces 'causing economic operation' against Iran, vows measures against nations trading with Tehran.” “Ngock very much fulfilled that vow by putting in several excellent performances in Morocco, including in the final, when she kept the dangerous Chawinga sisters in check.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English vowe, voue, that from Old French vut, in turn from Latin vōtum (“a promise, dedication, vow”), from vovēre (“to promise, vow”). Not related to avow. Doublet of vote.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/vow
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0