noun · verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/vaʊ/
rhymes with -aʊ
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
A solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner, especially a promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The old hermit, up in the mountains, took a vow of silence.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A declaration or assertion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A votive offering.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To make a vow; to promise.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To make a vow regarding (something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The wronged woman vowed revenge.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To declare publicly that one has made a vow, usually to show one's determination or to announce an act of retaliation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The rebels vowed to continue their fight.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
a solemn pledge (to oneself or to another or to a deity) to do something or to behave in a certain manner
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.
Across languages
Translations
199 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
نَذْر
(naḏr)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Arabic:
ندر
(nadr)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Armenian:
ուխտ
(uxt)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Armenian:
երդում
(erdum)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Asturian:
votu
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Belarusian:
кля́тва
(kljátva)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Belarusian:
кляцьба́
(kljacʹbá)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Belarusian:
прыся́га
(prysjáha)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Belarusian:
заро́к
(zarók)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Belarusian:
абе́тніца
(abjétnica)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Bulgarian:
кле́тва
(klétva)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Bulgarian:
обе́т
(obét)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Catalan:
vot
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Chinese:
愿
(goān)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Chinese Mandarin:
誓言
(shìyán)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Chinese Mandarin:
誓約 /誓约
(shìyuē)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ngazidja Comorian:
nadhiri
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Czech:
slib
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Czech:
přísaha
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Danish:
løfte
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Dutch:
gelofte
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Esperanto:
voto
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Esperanto:
ĵuro
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Estonian:
lubadus
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Finnish:
vala
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Finnish:
lupaus
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
French:
voeu
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
French:
vœu
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Gagauz:
emin
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Gagauz:
söz
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Galician:
voto
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Georgian:
ფიცი
(pici)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Georgian:
აღთქმა
(aɣtkma)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
German:
Gelübde
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
German:
Schwur
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
German:
Eid
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
German:
Gelöbnis
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Greek:
όρκος
(órkos)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ancient Greek:
ὅρκος
(hórkos)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Hebrew:
נֶדֶר
(néder)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Hindi:
वचन
(vacan)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Hindi:
प्रण
(praṇ)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Hindi:
व्रत
(vrat)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Hindi:
प्रतिज्ञा
(pratijñā)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Hindi:
मन्नत
(mannat)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Hungarian:
fogadalom
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ido:
vovo
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Italian:
voto
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Japanese:
誓い
(chikai)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Japanese:
誓約
(seiyaku)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Kazakh:
серт
(sert)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Korean:
맹세
(maengse)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Korean:
서약
(seoyak)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Latin:
vōtum
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Latvian:
apsolījums
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Lithuanian:
įžadas
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Macedonian:
заклетва
(zakletva)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Norwegian Bokmål:
løfte
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Old English:
behāt
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Iranian Persian:
قُول
(ġowl)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Iranian Persian:
نَذْر
(nazr)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Polish:
ślub
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Polish:
przysięga
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Portuguese:
bodo
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Portuguese:
voto
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Romanian:
jurământ
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Russian:
кля́тва
(kljátva)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Russian:
прися́га
(prisjága)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Russian:
обе́т
(obét)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Russian:
заро́к
(zarók)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Sanskrit:
व्रत
(vratá)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Serbo-Croatian:
за́клетва
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Serbo-Croatian:
при̏сега
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Serbo-Croatian:
zákletva
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Serbo-Croatian:
prȉsega
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Slovak:
prísaha
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Slovak:
sľub
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Slovene:
prisega
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Spanish:
voto
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Spanish:
manda
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Spanish:
promesa
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Swahili:
nadhiri
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Swedish:
löfte
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Tocharian B:
wrat
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Turkish:
yemin
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ottoman Turkish:
آند
(and)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ottoman Turkish:
سوگند
(sevgend)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ugaritic:
𐎐𐎄𐎗
(ndr)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ukrainian:
кля́тва
(kljátva)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ukrainian:
клятьба́
(kljatʹbá)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ukrainian:
прися́га
(prysjáha)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ukrainian:
обі́т
(obít)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Ukrainian:
обі́тниця
(obítnycja)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Urdu:
نَذْر
(nazr)
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Vietnamese:
lời thề
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Vietnamese:
lời nguyền
— a solemn promise to perform some act, or behave in a specified manner
Chinese Mandarin:
保證 /保证
(bǎozhèng)
— a declaration or assertion
Dutch:
eed
— a declaration or assertion
Finnish:
lupaus
— a declaration or assertion
Finnish:
vakuutus
— a declaration or assertion
Georgian:
განცხადება
(gancxadeba)
— a declaration or assertion
German:
Eid
— a declaration or assertion
Greek:
διαβεβαίωση
(diavevaíosi)
— a declaration or assertion
Hindi:
संकल्प
(saṅkalp)
— a declaration or assertion
Italian:
voto
— a declaration or assertion
Russian:
обяза́тельство
(objazátelʹstvo)
— a declaration or assertion
Russian:
завере́ние
(zaverénije)
— a declaration or assertion
Arabic:
نَذَرَ
(naḏara)
— to make a vow
Belarusian:
кля́сціся
(kljáscisja)
— to make a vow
Belarusian:
клясці́ся
(kljascísja)
— to make a vow
Bulgarian:
кълна́ се
(kǎlná se)
— to make a vow
Bulgarian:
закле́вам се
(zaklévam se)
— to make a vow
Bulgarian:
закълна́ се
(zakǎlná se)
— to make a vow
Catalan:
jurar
— to make a vow
Catalan:
prometre solemnement
— to make a vow
Chinese:
下愿
(hē-goān)
— to make a vow
Chinese:
发愿
(hoat-goān)
— to make a vow
Chinese Mandarin:
發誓 /发誓
(fāshì)
— to make a vow
Czech:
přísahat
— to make a vow
Danish:
love
— to make a vow
Danish:
sværge
— to make a vow
Dutch:
gelofte afleggen
— to make a vow
Dutch:
zweren
— to make a vow
Erzya:
варамс
(varams)
— to make a vow
Esperanto:
ĵuri
— to make a vow
Estonian:
lubama
— to make a vow
Finnish:
vannoa vala
— to make a vow
Finnish:
vannoa
— to make a vow
Finnish:
luvata
— to make a vow
Finnish:
vakuuttaa
— to make a vow
French:
jurer
— to make a vow
Georgian:
აღთქმა
(aɣtkma)
— to make a vow
Georgian:
დაფიცება
(dapiceba)
— to make a vow
Georgian:
ფიცის დადება
(picis dadeba)
— to make a vow
Georgian:
დაპირება
(daṗireba)
— to make a vow
German:
schwören
— to make a vow
German:
geloben
— to make a vow
Ancient Greek:
ὄμνυμι
(ómnumi)
— to make a vow
Hindi:
वचन
(vacan)
— to make a vow
Hindi:
प्रण
(praṇ)
— to make a vow
Hindi:
प्रतिज्ञा
(pratijñā)
— to make a vow
Hungarian:
megfogad
— to make a vow
Hungarian:
megesküszik
— to make a vow
Hungarian:
fogad
— to make a vow
Hungarian:
esküszik
— to make a vow
Icelandic:
strengja heit
— to make a vow
Ido:
vovar
— to make a vow
Italian:
giurare
— to make a vow
Italian:
votare
— to make a vow
Japanese:
誓う
(chikau)
— to make a vow
Japanese:
契る
(chigiru)
— to make a vow
Korean:
맹세하다
(maengsehada)
— to make a vow
Middle Korean:
벼기다
(pyekita)
— to make a vow
Latin:
vōveō
— to make a vow
Latin:
iurō
— to make a vow
Latvian:
apsolīt
— to make a vow
Lithuanian:
pažadėti
— to make a vow
Macedonian:
колне
(kolne)
— to make a vow
Macedonian:
заколне
(zakolne)
— to make a vow
Norwegian Bokmål:
love
— to make a vow
Norwegian Bokmål:
sverge
— to make a vow
Norwegian Nynorsk:
lova
— to make a vow
Norwegian Nynorsk:
sverja
— to make a vow
Norwegian Nynorsk:
sverje
— to make a vow
Piedmontese:
voidé
— to make a vow
Pohnpeian:
kahula
— to make a vow
Pohnpeian:
kahukihla
— to make a vow
Russian:
кля́сться
(kljástʹsja)
— to make a vow
Russian:
покля́сться
(pokljástʹsja)
— to make a vow
Russian:
присяга́ть
(prisjagátʹ)
— to make a vow
Russian:
присягну́ть
(prisjagnútʹ)
— to make a vow
Russian:
дава́ть обе́т
(davátʹ obét)
— to make a vow
Russian:
обеща́ть
(obeščátʹ)
— to make a vow
Russian:
пообеща́ть
(poobeščátʹ)
— to make a vow
Serbo-Croatian:
кле̑ти се
— to make a vow
Serbo-Croatian:
klȇti se
— to make a vow
Slovak:
prisahať
— to make a vow
Slovene:
prisegati
— to make a vow
Slovene:
priseči
— to make a vow
Spanish:
devodar
— to make a vow
Swedish:
svära
— to make a vow
Swedish:
lova
— to make a vow
Turkish:
ant içmek
— to make a vow
Turkish:
yemin etmek
— to make a vow
Ukrainian:
кля́стися
(kljástysja)
— to make a vow
Ukrainian:
клясти́ся
(kljastýsja)
— to make a vow
Vietnamese:
phát nguyện
— to make a vow
Chinese Mandarin:
宣誓
(xuānshì)
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
Finnish:
vannoa
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
Georgian:
დაფიცება
(dapiceba)
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
Georgian:
დაპირება
(daṗireba)
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
German:
sich dazu erklärt haben
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
Hungarian:
megfogad
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
Icelandic:
strengja heit
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
Russian:
кля́сться
(kljástʹsja)
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
Russian:
покля́сться
(pokljástʹsja)
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
Russian:
обеща́ть
(obeščátʹ)
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
Russian:
пообеща́ть
(poobeščátʹ)
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
Vietnamese:
tuyên thệ
— to declare publicly that one made a vow
