Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense votes, present participle voting, past tense, past participle voted
1. countable noun
A vote is a choice made by a particular person or group in a meeting or an election.
He walked to the local polling centre to cast his vote.
The government got a massive majority–well over 400 votes.
Mr Reynolds was re-elected by 102 votes to 60.
2. countable noun
Avote is an occasion when a group of people make a decision by each person indicating his or her choice. The choice that most people support is accepted by the group.
Why do you think we should have a vote on that? [+ on]
They took a vote and decided not to do it.
Synonyms: poll, election, ballot, referendum More Synonyms of vote
3. singular noun
Thevote is the total number of votes or voters in an election, or the number of votes received or cast by a particular group.
Opposition parties won about fifty-five per cent of the vote.
The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of the Democratic Party.
...a huge majority of the white male vote.
4. singular noun
If you have thevote in an election, or have avote in a meeting, you have the legal right to indicate your choice.
And of course we didn't even have the vote, did we?
Before that, women did not have a vote at all.
People with disabilities have got a vote as well, you know.
Synonyms: right to vote, franchise, voting rights, suffrage More Synonyms of vote
5. verb
When you vote, you indicate your choice officially at a meeting or in an election, for example by raising your hand or writing on a piece of paper.
Two-thirds of the electorate had the chance to vote in these elections. [VERB]
It seems many people would vote for the government, if there was a new leader. [VERB preposition]
Both chambers plan to vote on that policy before January 15th. [VERB preposition]
The residents of Leningrad voted to restore the city's original name of St Petersburg. [VERB to-infinitive]
The board of trustees voted by majority vote to remove the director. [VERB to-infinitive]
The council voted 9:8 for a five percent tax increase. [V num + for]
Synonyms: cast your vote, ballot, go to the polls, mark your ballot paper More Synonyms of vote
votinguncountable noun
Voting began about two hours ago.
6. verb
If you vote a particular political party or leader, or voteyes or no, you make that choice with the vote that you have.
52.5% of those questioned said they'd vote Labour. [VERB noun]
I probably would have voted that way anyway. [VERB noun]
A single candidate is put forward and the people vote yes or no. [Vyes]
[Also Vno]
7. verb
If a government or other organization votes money for something or to do something, they decide to spend the money in that way.
The General Court had voted $250 for a monument to be erected to his memory. [V n for/to n]
The Parliament voted more funds to help maintain American forces. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
[Also VERB noun noun]
8. verb
If people vote someone a particular title, they choose that person to have that title.
His class voted him the man 'who had done the most for Yale.'. [VERB noun noun]
Michael has been voted Player of the Year. [VERB noun noun]
Synonyms: judge, declare, pronounce, decree More Synonyms of vote
9. See also block vote
10.
See to vote with your feet
11.
See I vote
12.
See one man one vote
Phrasal verbs:
See vote down
See vote in
See vote out
More Synonyms of vote
vote in British English
(vəʊt)
noun
1.
an indication of choice, opinion, or will on a question, such as the choosing of a candidate, by or as if by some recognized means, such as a ballot
10 votes for Jones
2.
the opinion of a group of persons as determined by voting
it was put to the vote
do not take a vote
it came to a vote
3.
a body of votes or voters collectively
the Jewish vote
4.
the total number of votes cast
the vote decreased at the last election
5.
the ticket, ballot, etc, by which a vote is expressed
6.
a.
the right to vote; franchise; suffrage
b.
a person regarded as the embodiment of this right
7.
a means of voting, such as a ballot
8. mainly British
a grant or other proposition to be voted upon
verb
9. (when tr, takes a clause as object or an infinitive)
to express or signify (one's preference, opinion, or will) (for or against some question, etc)
to vote by ballot
we voted that it was time to adjourn
vote for me!
10. (intransitive)
to declare oneself as being (something or in favour of something) by exercising one's vote
to vote socialist
11. (tr; foll by into or out of, etc)
to appoint or elect (a person to or from a particular post)
they voted her into the presidency
he was voted out of office
12. (transitive)
to determine the condition of in a specified way by voting
the court voted itself out of existence
13. (transitive)
to authorize, confer, or allow by voting
vote us a rise
14. (transitive) informal
to declare by common opinion
the party was voted a failure
15. (transitive)
to influence or control the voting of
do not try to vote us!
Derived forms
votable (ˈvotable) or voteable (ˈvoteable)
adjective
voteless (ˈvoteless)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Latin vōtum a solemn promise, from vovēre to vow
vote in American English
(voʊt)
noun
1.
a.
a decision by a group on a proposal, resolution, bill, etc., or a choice between candidates for office, expressed by written ballot, voice, show of hands, etc.
b.
the decision of any individual in the group
2.
a.
the expression or indication of such a decision or choice
b.
the ticket, ballot, voice, or other means by which it is expressed
3.
the right to exercise such a decision or choice, as in a meeting, election, etc.;suffrage
4.
a.
the total number of ballots cast
a light vote
b.
votes collectively
to get out the vote
c.
a specified group of voters, or their votes, collectively
the farm vote
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈvoted or ˈvoting
5.
to express the will or a preference in a matter by ballot, voice, etc.; give or cast a vote
6.
to declare a preference, wish, opinion, etc.
the departing spectators voted with their feet
verb transitive
7.
a.
to decide, choose, enact, or authorize by vote
b.
to grant or confer by vote
c.
to support (a specified party ticket) in voting
8.
to declare by general opinion
voted the picnic a success
9. Informal
to suggest
I vote we leave now
Idioms:
vote down
vote in
vote out
Derived forms
voteless (ˈvoteless)
adjective
Word origin
LME (Scot) < L votum, a wish, vow < neut. of votus, pp. of vovere, to vow < IE base *ewegwh-, to speak solemnly, vow > Sans vāghát, one who vows, Gr euche, a vow, prayer
More idioms containing
vote
vote with your feet
COBUILD Collocations
vote
core vote
referendum vote
Examples of 'vote' in a sentence
vote
It necessarily would mean that some members had voting rights while others would not.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
People voted for departure and they need a say on the destination.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The bigger problem is predicting who will cast a vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
To trick people into voting one way or another is a kind of theft.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's not about how anyone voted.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was certainly a step too far when Labour again voted him leader.
The Sun (2016)
We had a poor June and the first couple of weeks after the vote our numbers were poor.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I can vote in free elections.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
More than 70 per cent voted Leave in the referendum.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We came at double voting rights from the other end of the argument.
Thompson, Sir Peter Sharing the Success - the story of NFC (1990)
Both groups voted him player of the season last year.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
These people were furious to wake up and find they had accidentally voted for the government.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They buy the voting cards for money or mobile phone scratch cards.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
More people vote against than for them.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
These packages are voted without numbers attached.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
To influence the vote one way or the other.
The Sun (2012)
Now he is going home months before anyone casts a vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The person we vote for speaks like you.
The Sun (2015)
Those who do not vote in elections have no right to complain about the outcomes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Which way is the vote likely to go?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Sport is not about silly votes and the opinions of silly people.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Would you resent voting ballots being printed in two or more languages?
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
The right to vote should also include the right not to vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Artists have been added to the group that votes to decide most of the awards.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She votes against the government more times than is wise.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Polls put both men on about 48 per cent of the vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
These religious minorities are the pillars of the Democratic vote.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
vote
British English: vote /vəʊt/ NOUN
A vote is a choice made by a particular person or group in a meeting or an election.
He walked to the local polling centre to cast his vote.
American English: vote
Arabic: تَصْوِيت
Brazilian Portuguese: voto
Chinese: 投票
Croatian: glasanje
Czech: hlasování
Danish: stemme ved afstemning
Dutch: stem voorkeur
European Spanish: voto
Finnish: ääni vaaleissa ja äänestyksissä
French: vote
German: Stimme Wahl
Greek: ψήφος
Italian: voto votazione
Japanese: 投票
Korean: 투표
Norwegian: stemme
Polish: głosowanie
European Portuguese: voto
Romanian: vot
Russian: голос при голосовании
Latin American Spanish: voto
Swedish: röst
Thai: การลงคะแนนเสียง
Turkish: oy
Ukrainian: голосування
Vietnamese: sự bầu cử
British English: vote /vəʊt/ VERB
When you vote, you indicate your choice officially at a meeting or in an election, for example, by raising your hand or writing on a piece of paper.
Who are you going to vote for?
The parliament voted to allow greater political and religious freedom.
American English: vote
Arabic: يُصَوِّتُ
Brazilian Portuguese: votar
Chinese: 投票
Croatian: glasati
Czech: hlasovat
Danish: stemme
Dutch: stemmen
European Spanish: votar
Finnish: äänestää
French: voter
German: abstimmen
Greek: ψηφίζω
Italian: votare
Japanese: 投票する
Korean: 투표하다
Norwegian: stemme
Polish: zagłosować
European Portuguese: votar
Romanian: a vota
Russian: голосовать
Latin American Spanish: votar
Swedish: rösta
Thai: ลงคะแนนเสียง
Turkish: oy vermek
Ukrainian: голосувати
Vietnamese: bầu cử
All related terms of 'vote'
I vote
If you say ' I vote that ' a particular thing should happen , you are suggesting that this is what should happen.
vote in
If people vote in a particular person or political party , they give enough votes to that person or party in an official election for them to hold a position of power .
card vote
a vote by delegates , esp at a trade-union conference , in which each delegate's vote counts as a vote by all his or her constituents
core vote
The vote is the total number of votes or voters in an election, or the number of votes received or cast by a particular group.
free vote
a parliamentary division in which members are not constrained by a party whip
grey vote
the body of elderly people's votes , or elderly people regarded collectively as voters
vote down
If people vote down a person or their proposal , they reject that person or proposal, usually as a result of a formal vote.
vote out
If people vote out a particular person or political party , they give that person or party so few votes in an official election that they no longer hold a position of power .
block vote
A block vote is a large number of votes that are all cast in the same way by one person on behalf of a group of people.
cross-vote
to vote against one's own party
donkey vote
a vote on a preferential ballot on which the voter's order of preference follows the order in which the candidates are listed
faggot vote
(formerly) a vote created by the allotting of property to a person to give him or her the status of an elector
party vote
(in New Zealand ) a vote cast at a general election to determine the number of parliamentary seats to which each party is entitled
postal vote
a voting slip that can be filled in at home and sent by post
proxy vote
a vote cast by a person's representative
straw vote
an unofficial vote or poll taken to determine general group opinion on a given issue
swing vote
In a situation when people are about to vote, the swing vote is used to talk about the vote of a person or group which is difficult to predict and which will be important in deciding the result.
token vote
a Parliamentary vote of money in which the amount quoted to aid discussion is not intended to be binding
voice vote
a vote taken in a legislative body by calling for the ayes and the noes and estimating which faction is more numerous from the volume of the noise
vote-loser
an unpopular action that has the possibility of deterring voters from voting for a particular person or party
vote-winner
a popular action that could secure votes for a person or party
absentee vote
a vote cast in advance by a voter who will be unable to go to the polling place on polling day
casting vote
When a committee has given an equal number of votes for and against a proposal , the chairperson can give a casting vote . This vote decides whether or not the proposal will be passed .
floating vote
a body of votes or voters collectively not consistently favouring any single political party
informal vote
an invalid vote or ballot
popular vote
the vote of all a country's or constituency's voters , as opposed to that of a particular group such as an electoral college , or parliament
protest vote
In an election , a protest vote is a vote against the party you usually support in order to show disapproval of something they are doing or planning to do.
vote-catching
relating to a means of securing votes
composite vote
a voting result arrived at through averaging or combining other votes
confidence vote
a vote to clarify whether someone or something has the support of those present
electoral vote
the number of electors that each state or federal district is allowed to have
electorate vote
(in New Zealand) a vote cast at a general election to determine the Member of Parliament for an electorate
referendum vote
A vote is a choice made by a particular person or group in a meeting or an election .
Alternative Vote
of or relating to a system of voting in which voters list the candidates in order of preference . If no candidate obtains more than 50% of first-preference votes, the votes for the bottom candidate are redistributed according to the voters' next preference
transferable vote
a vote that is transferred to a second candidate indicated by the voter if the first is eliminated from the ballot
vote of thanks
A vote of thanks is an official speech in which the speaker formally thanks a person for doing something.
one man one vote
One man one vote or one person one vote is a system of voting in which every person in a group or country has the right to cast their vote, and in which each individual's vote is counted and has equal value .
vote of censure
a vote on a motion put by the Opposition censuring an aspect of the Government's policy ; if the motion is carried the Government is obliged to resign
vote of confidence
A vote of confidence is a vote in which members of a group are asked to indicate that they still support the person or group in power, usually the government.
straw poll
A straw poll is the unofficial questioning of a group of people to find out their opinion about something.
Single Transferable Vote
of or relating to a system of voting in which voters list the candidates in order of preference . Any candidate achieving a predetermined proportion of the votes in a constituency is elected . Votes exceeding this amount and those cast for the bottom candidate are redistributed according to the stated preferences. Redistribution continues until all the seats are filled
vote of no confidence
A vote of no confidence is a vote in which members of a group are asked to indicate that they do not support the person or group in power, usually the government.
vote with your feet
to show what you want through your actions, for example showing your dislike of a place or situation by leaving it
to vote with your feet
If you vote with your feet , you show that you do not support something by leaving the place where it is happening or leaving the organization that is supporting it.
to win the popular vote
to get a majority as regards the votes cast by individual voters
vote of non-confidence
a vote or motion in a legislative body censuring an aspect of or indicating a lack of majority support for a government policy
Chinese translation of 'vote'
vote
(vəut)
n(c)
选(選)票 (xuǎnpiào) (张(張), zhāng)
the vote (= votes cast) 选(選)票总(總)数(數) (xuǎnpiào zǒngshù) (= right to vote) 选(選)举(舉)权(權) (xuǎnjǔquán)
⇒ They captured 13 per cent of the vote.他们获得了百分之十三的选票。 (Tāmen huòdéle bǎi fēn zhī shísān de xuǎnpiào.)
⇒ Women have had the vote for over fifty years.妇女获得选举权已有五十多年了。 (Fùnǚ huòdé xuǎnjǔquán yǐ yǒu wǔshí duō nián le.)
vt
to vote Labour/Green etc投票给(給)工党(黨)/绿(綠)党(黨)等 (tóupiào gěi gōngdǎng/lǜdǎng děng)
vi
投票 (tóupiào)
to cast one's vote投票 (tóupiào)
to put sth to the vote将(將)某事交付表决(決) (jiāng mǒushì jiāofù biǎojué)
to take a vote on sth就某事进(進)行表决(決) (jiù mǒushì jìnxíng biǎojué)
to vote to do sth投票决(決)定做某事 (tóupiào juédìng zuò mǒushì)
to vote yes/no to sth投票赞(贊)成/反对(對)某事 (tóupiào zànchéng/fǎnduì mǒushì)
to be voted chairman etc被投票选(選)为(為)主席等 (bèi tóupiào xuǎnwéi zhǔxí děng)
to vote for sb投某人票 (tóu mǒurén piào)
to vote for/against sth投票支持/反对(對)某事 (tóupiào zhīchí/fǎnduì mǒushì)