vote

1 of 2

verb

voted; voting; votes

intransitive verb

1
: to cast or conduct a vote
The class voted by a show of hands.
They encouraged everyone to vote in the presidential election.
She always votes Republican/Democratic.
The committee voted on the proposal.
The committee voted against the proposal.
The committee voted for the proposal. = The committee voted in favor of the proposal.
The Senate voted 51 to 100 to pass the bill.
Some representatives voted with the opposing party.
The jury voted for acquittal.
Who votes for going out to dinner tonight? [=who wants to go out to dinner tonight?]
2
a
: to vote in a way that helps one financially
"… What happens if you vote with your wallet this election year? We'll look at how the numbers in the leading candidate's tax plans add up for you and the nation. …"Gayle King
"… The economy was doing well and people often vote with their pocketbooks. …"Tara Setmayer
b
: to express an opinion
If our customers don't like our products, they will vote with their wallets/pocketbooks. [=they will not buy our products]
"Consumers vote with their dollars and corporations listen," [Bettina] Siegel tells Newsweek …Elijah Wolfson
When the restaurant changed its menu, many former customers voted with their feet.[=expressed their disapproval or dissatisfaction by leaving]

transitive verb

1
: to choose, endorse, decide the disposition of, defeat, or authorize (someone or something) by vote
He was voted out of office.
Legislators voted the bill into law.
The contestant was voted off the show.
It was voted that residents will have to pay a trash collection fee.
The issue was finally settled by a joint resolution … voting appropriations for the damages …Gerald P. Fogarty
The proposal was voted down.
She was voted in (as vice president) last year.
She was voted out (of office) last year.
They were voted on/onto the committee.
The proposal was voted through. [=the proposal was passed]
2
a
: to adjudge (something) by general agreement : declare
Everyone voted that it was the best tea this year.André Bieler
b
: to offer (something) as a suggestion : propose
I vote we all go home.
3
a
: to cause (someone) to vote in a given way
b
: to cause (something, such as a proxy vote) to be cast for or against a proposal
4
: to vote in accordance with or in the interest of
vote your conscience
People tend to vote their pocketbooks/wallets.

vote

2 of 2

noun

plural votes
1
a
: a usually formal expression of opinion or will in response to a proposed decision
especially : one given as an indication of approval or disapproval of a proposal, motion, or candidate for office
An Oregon City Schools operations levy appeared poised for defeat with 2,119 votes against and 1,630 votes in favor. Kate Snyder
b
: the total number of such expressions of opinion made known at a single time (as at an election)
usually used with the
tallying the vote
The candidate won only 10 percent of the vote.
c
: an expression of opinion or preference that resembles a vote
a vote of support/thanks
d
: ballot sense 1
counting the votes
People waited in line to cast their votes.
2
: the collective opinion or verdict of a body of persons expressed by voting : the result of a vote
The vote was in his favor.
She won by a vote of 206 to 57.
3
: the right to cast a vote
specifically : the right of suffrage : franchise
usually used with the
In 1920, American women won the vote.
4
a
: the act or process of voting
Let's take a vote.
brought the question to a vote
The issue never came to a vote.
The referendum will be put to a vote.
b
: a method of voting
The amendment was passed by a voice vote.
5
: a formal expression of a wish, will, or choice voted by a meeting
The congressional votes in January authorizing U.S. military action before the ground war began have probably set a precedent …, according to [Les] Aspin.Don Oberdorfer
6
a
: voter
the undecided votes
b
: a group of voters with some common and identifying characteristics
the labor vote
made appeals to the youth/independent vote
c
: the whole group of people in an area who have the right to vote
Volunteers for her campaign helped get out the vote [=persuade people to go vote] on Election Day.
7
chiefly British
a
: a proposition to be voted on
especially : a legislative money item
b
: appropriation
… prisons had to be equipped and staff paid out of the annual votes for the naval services.Olive Anderson
see also casting vote, vote of no confidence

Examples of vote in a Sentence

Verb Citizens will vote today for their new governor. Did you vote in the last election? The committee hasn't yet voted on the matter. Congress voted 121 to 16 to pass the bill. He voted against the proposal. They voted the referendum into law. Senators voted themselves a pay raise despite the budget shortfall. We have to decide what to do about dinner. I vote that we get a pizza. Noun They are counting the votes now. There are 20 votes in favor and 12 against. He got 56 percent of the votes. She's campaigning hard to raise money and win votes. People waited in line to cast their votes. I cast my vote for the Republican candidate. The vote was in her favor. She won by a vote of 206 to 57. In 1920, American women won the vote. The candidate won only 10 percent of the vote.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
During the 2018 presidential elections, 401 polling stations operated abroad and more than 475,000 people voted, according to the Central Election Commission as quoted by RIA Novosti. Anna Chernova, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 After Kirkpatrick shared details about the infestations plaguing the police headquarters, city council members voted to approve a 10-year lease agreement for a move to a new building, costing $670,000 per month, CBS reported. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 Following months of tense meetings, vitriol and campaigning, two board members of the Sunol Glen Unified School District voted to set the date for their own recall to be considered by voters. Will McCarthy, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 The bill, which passed the House hours before Biden's address on Thursday, had all Republicans and 37 Democrats, including Gallego, voting in favor of the legislation. Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024 Fan voting for that category begins today, and the total will be narrowed down to six videos on April 1; the top three finalists from the second round of voting will be announced April 7, the day before the CMT Music Awards. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 The House voted to pass the bill 352 to 65, with one voting present. Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The fate of TikTok in the US now lies with the Senate after House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill that would ban the app unless Chinese parent company ByteDance sells it. Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 13 Mar. 2024 On Sunday, March 10, an advisory board voted on the resolution after hearing testimony from several dermatologists who opposed the anti-DEI move. Melissa Noel, Essence, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
Garcia, the California Republican, told me that at a meeting last fall Party leaders had asked him to explain his vote against a three-hundred-million-dollar funding patch for Ukraine. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 Many Russians spoiled their ballot papers or marked their votes against Putin. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Trump won the district in 2020 by a vote of 3-to-1, the largest margin of Ohio's 15 congressional districts. The Enquirer, 14 Mar. 2024 The bill, which cleared the committee on a vote of 18-4, moves to the Senate for further action. Susan Haigh, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 Last week, the bill was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee by a unanimous vote, an extremely unusual sight for Congress. USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 On Wednesday, many creators posted videos expressing disappointment with the House vote but optimism about the bill’s chances in the Senate. Yiwen Lu, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 If the New York Democrat thinks a vote to ban TikTok could harm the prospects for his party in tight races, Schumer could decide against bringing the bill for a vote, Wall Street analysts said. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024 The opposition candidates are, by their own admission, unlikely to take many votes away from the president. Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vote.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English (Scots), from Latin votum vow, wish — more at vow

First Known Use

Verb

1549, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vote was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near vote

Cite this Entry

“Vote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vote. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vote

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a formal expression of opinion or will (as by ballot in an election)
b
: the result reached by voting
2
: the general opinion expressed by voters
the vote is to lower taxes
3
: the right to cast a vote : suffrage
gave women the vote
4
a
: the act or process of voting
bring the issue to a vote
b
: a method of voting
a voice vote
5
a
: voter
b
: a group of voters with a common interest or quality
the farm vote
voteless
-ləs
adjective

vote

2 of 2 verb
voted; voting
1
: to express one's wish or choice by a vote : cast a vote
2
: to elect, decide, pass, defeat, grant, or make legal by a vote
3
: to declare by general agreement
4
: to put forth as a suggestion
I vote we all go home

Legal Definition

vote

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a usually formal expression of opinion or will in response to a proposed decision
especially : one given as an indication of approval or disapproval of a proposal, motion, or candidate for office
b
: the total number of such votes made known at a single time
got half the vote
2
: the collective opinion or preference of a body of persons expressed by voting
3
: the right to cast a vote
specifically : the right of suffrage
4
a
: the act or process of voting
brought the question to a vote
b
: a method of voting

vote

2 of 2 verb
voted; voting

intransitive verb

a
: to cast or conduct a vote
vote for acquittal
b
: to exercise a political franchise
encourage people to vote

transitive verb

1
: to choose, endorse, decide the disposition of, defeat, or authorize by vote
vote an appropriation
2
: to cast votes on a corporate matter on the basis of
voted their shares against the proposed merger
Etymology

Noun

Latin votum vow, hope, wish

More from Merriam-Webster on vote

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