vow

VOW/vaʊ/

Pluralvows

Verbvows, vowing, vowed

6 meanings of vow

1
nouncountable
A serious promise to do something or to behave in a certain way.
Like a strong promise you really mean to keep, no matter what.
She made a solemn vow to care for her sister's children.
Their wedding vows moved everyone in the room to tears.
Similarpromise, pledge, oath, commitment
Note
2
verbtransitive or intransitive
To make a serious promise.
Like making a promise you plan to keep no matter what.
I vow to always tell the truth.
She vowed to do better next time.
Similarpromise, pledge, swear
Note
3
verbtransitive
To tell people openly that you have made a promise, often to show you are serious or to warn of revenge.
Standing in front of the cheering crowd, the players vow to win the title next year.
After the attack, the leader went on TV and vowed to hit back.
Similarswear, pledge, promise
4
verbtransitive
To promise something in a serious way.
She vowed her full support for the cause.
They vow loyalty to their new leader.
Similarswear, pledge, promise

Less common meanings

5
nounobsolete
A gift left at a holy place as part of a promise to a god.
Like leaving flowers at a special place to say thank you.
She placed a small vow at the shrine to thank the gods.
There are also waxen vows, that represent other parts of the body mixed with them; but of these there are few in comparison of the number of the Priapi.
1786, Richard Payne Knight, The Worship of PriapusHere, vows means wax gifts left for a god as part of a promise.
Note
6
noun
A firm statement saying that something is true.

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Origin

It comes from Latin "votum," meaning a promise or vow, through Old French and Middle English.