Vowed

Vowed is the past tense and past participle of the verb vow. It denotes making a solemn promise or pledge, or committing oneself to a course of action. Used as an adjective, vowed describes a commitment that has been formally pledged, as in “vowed loyalty” or “vowed enemies.”

In sentences, someone can vow to do something: “She vowed to tell the truth.” The construction is typically “vowed to [verb].” As an attributive adjective, vowed can modify a noun to emphasize the seriousness of the commitment, as in “vowed loyalty” or “vowed allegiance.”

Contexts for vows span religious, personal, and formal domains. Religious vows are promises made within orders or communities, such as vows of poverty, chastity, or obedience. Marriage vows are the promises exchanged between partners at a wedding. In secular or legal settings, a vow may appear as part of a pledge or undertaking, though terms like oath or pledge are more common in formal contexts.

Nuance: vowed emphasizes the seriousness and intentionality of the promise. It often signals that the obligation persists beyond the moment of making the pledge. The past tense form indicates that the pledge has already been made, although it may still be expected to be fulfilled.

Related terms include vow, oath, pledge, and commitment. In usage, vow tends to convey a personal, solemn dimension of promising.