vow

vow — verb

1. to promise someone or yourself in a very serious and determined way that you wil

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to promise someone or yourself in a very serious and determined way that you will do something, often because you feel strongly about it or want to change something important in your life.

Example

Christopher vowed to improve his grades after receiving his exam results.

vow + to-infinitive for personal commitments

Theo and his partner vowed to support each other through every challenge.

Common collocations
  • solemnly vow
  • vow to do something
  • vow that
  • publicly vow
  • vow revenge
Synonyms
  • swear

    slightly less formal than vow; can also mean to use bad language, so context matters

  • pledge

    often used for formal commitments to groups or causes; slightly less emotional than vow

  • promise

    more common and less formal; used for everyday commitments where vow would sound too dramatic

Antonyms
  • break

    to fail to keep a vow or promise

Grammar Patterns

vow + to-infinitive

vow + that-clause

vow + never/not to-infinitive

vow + noun phrase (rare)

Usage Note

Stronger and more formal than 'promise'. This sense almost always requires a complement — either a to-infinitive or a that-clause — specifying what action the speaker commits to. Not used for casual arrangements or everyday favours.

Common Mistakes

I vowed to call you tomorrow.
I promised to call you tomorrow.
'vow' is too strong for casual or everyday arrangements; use 'promise' for routine commitments.
She vowed at the meeting.
She vowed to speak up at the meeting.
'vow' needs a complement (to-infinitive or that-clause) specifying what is promised.

2. to offer or give someone or something completely to a god or a religious purpose

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to offer or give someone or something completely to a god or a religious purpose, as part of a formal and serious promise made in a ceremony or ritual.

Example

The temple was vowed to the goddess Athena in ancient times.

passive: was vowed to [deity]

Alessia vowed her life to serving the monastery and its community.

vow + life/reflexive object to [purpose]

Common collocations
  • vow to God
  • vow one's life
  • vow oneself to
  • vow to a deity
Synonyms
  • dedicate

    more general and less tied to formal promises; can be used for non-religious commitments too

  • consecrate

    more formal and specifically religious; implies a holy purpose through a blessing

  • devote

    similar meaning but does not necessarily involve a formal promise or vow

Grammar Patterns

vow + object + to + deity/purpose

be vowed + to + deity/purpose

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice. The object is typically something of great personal value — one's life, children, property, or possessions. This sense is almost entirely limited to religious or ritualistic contexts.

Common Mistakes

I vowed my old chair to the temple.
The family vowed a portion of their land to the temple.
'vow' in this sense is used for things of serious value, not everyday objects.

vow — noun

Word family

  • avow
    verbC1
  • avowal
    nounC2
  • votive
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All three words involve committing to do something, but they differ in emotional weight and formality. 'Promise' is the everyday word — you promise to pick up groceries, to call a friend, to finish a task. 'Vow' is far stronger: it implies a deeply serious, often life-changing commitment made with strong emotion or in a formal setting — renewing a wedding vow, vowing to quit smoking, vowing to tell the truth. 'Swear' sits between them in intensity and is common in both informal and formal settings ('I swear I didn't see him'), but it can also mean using bad language, which causes ambiguity. 'Pledge' is formal and often directed at an institution or cause — pledging money to a charity, pledging loyalty to a club. In practice: you promise a friend you will arrive on time; you vow to yourself that you will change your life; you swear in court to tell the truth; you pledge your support to a campaign.

swear ↗pledge ↗promise ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make a vow
  • keep a vow
  • break a vow
  • take a vow
  • exchange vows
  • renew one's vows

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'vow' entered English through Old French 'vou' (a promise), which came from Latin 'votum' (a promise made to a god, a solemn pledge). The Latin root 'votum' is also the source of 'vote' — both words originally involved expressing a wish or a promise in a formal way. The religious sense of dedicating something to a deity was present from the earliest recorded uses in English.