vow

/vaʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /vaʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvau̇/ (ame, mw)

vow — verb

  • vowpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • vowshe / she / it
  • vowedpast simple
  • vowing-ing form

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

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

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.

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • break

    to fail to keep a vow or promise

文法句型

vow + to-infinitive

vow + that-clause

vow + never/not to-infinitive

vow + noun phrase (rare)

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.動詞及物C1
釋義

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.

例句

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]

同義詞
  • 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

文法句型

vow + object + to + deity/purpose

be vowed + to + deity/purpose

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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