vow

/vaʊ/

/vaʊ/

Other forms: vowed; vows; vowing

To vow is to make an earnest promise or pledge. People getting married often vow to stick together “till death do us part,” while a presidential candidate might vow to lower taxes.

You can use vow as both a noun and a verb: A vow is a solemn declaration; to vow is the act of making that promise. Vows are meant to be serious, sacred things, even vows made with the best intentions can be broken. Wrote American short-story writer and poet Dorothy Parker, “By the time you swear you are his, shivering and sighing, And he vows his passion is infinite and undying—Lady, make a note of this: One of you is lying.”

Definitions of vow

1. noun

   a solemn pledge (to oneself or to another or to a deity) to do something or to behave in a certain manner
   “they took vows of poverty”

   type of:

   assurance, pledge

   a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something
2. verb

   make a vow; promise
   types:

   affiance, betroth, engage, plight

   give to in marriage

   profess

   take vows, as in religious order

   swear

   promise solemnly; take an oath

   take the veil

   become a nun

   type of:

   pledge, plight

   promise solemnly and formally
3. verb

   dedicate to a deity by a vow
   synonyms: consecrate

   type of:

   commit, consecrate, dedicate, devote, give

   give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause