Oath
noun
A serious promise or pledge, especially one made to God or a god.
He took an oath to serve his country faithfully.
Often appears as...
- take an oath
- swear an oath
noun
A formal and serious promise to tell the truth in a court of law.
You have to take an oath before you give evidence in court.
Often appears as...
- under oath
- take the oath
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A swear word or offensive term used to express anger or frustration.
He muttered an oath under his breath.
Often appears as...
- mutter an oath
- curse with an oath
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
noun
A serious promise or pledge, especially one made to God or a god.
He took an oath to serve his country faithfully.
Often appears as...
- take an oath
- swear an oath
noun
A formal and serious promise to tell the truth in a court of law.
You have to take an oath before you give evidence in court.
Often appears as...
- under oath
- take the oath
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A swear word or offensive term used to express anger or frustration.
He muttered an oath under his breath.
Often appears as...
- mutter an oath
- curse with an oath
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Solemn Pledge
An 'oath' is more serious than a simple promise and often involves a witness or higher authority.
In the ceremony, each member recited an oath of loyalty.
Pro Tip 2/3Irrevocable Commitment
When you take an 'oath,' it implies a deep commitment that you can't easily back out of.
Upon joining the knights, he swore an oath that bound him for life.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Gravity
Oaths may have different weights in various cultures; understood as sacred in some places.
In her community, breaking an oath could lead to ostracization.
Pro Tip 1/3Solemn Pledge
An 'oath' is more serious than a simple promise and often involves a witness or higher authority.
In the ceremony, each member recited an oath of loyalty.
Pro Tip 2/3Irrevocable Commitment
When you take an 'oath,' it implies a deep commitment that you can't easily back out of.
Upon joining the knights, he swore an oath that bound him for life.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Gravity
Oaths may have different weights in various cultures; understood as sacred in some places.
In her community, breaking an oath could lead to ostracization.
Pro Tip 1/3Solemn Pledge
An 'oath' is more serious than a simple promise and often involves a witness or higher authority.
In the ceremony, each member recited an oath of loyalty.
Pro Tip 2/3Irrevocable Commitment
When you take an 'oath,' it implies a deep commitment that you can't easily back out of.
Upon joining the knights, he swore an oath that bound him for life.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Gravity
Oaths may have different weights in various cultures; understood as sacred in some places.
In her community, breaking an oath could lead to ostracization.
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Video examples
Chinaka Hodge: What will...
This year, we were women, not brides or trinkets, not an off-brand gender, not a concession, but women. Instruct your babies. Remind them that the year has passed to be docile or small. Some of us said for the first time that we were women, took this oath of solidarity seriously.
Video examples
The myth of Loki and the...
and came to an agreement with the builder. He would only have one winter to complete the wall. If any part was unfinished by the first day of summer, he would receive no payment. And he could have no help from any other people. The gods sealed the deal with solemn oaths
Video examples
What everyday citizens...
so that every student entering an engineering program takes a technocratic oath or a wisdom oath or some oath of commitment to the rest of us. That's my best hope, that we all rise. Because governments and businesses will fight over this power game, but where are we?
Video examples
How do US Supreme Court...
the president issues a written appointment, allowing the nominee to complete the final steps to take the constitutional and judicial oaths. In doing so, they solemnly swear to administer justice without respect to persons and do equal right to the poor and the rich
Video examples
How better tech could...
Arguably, you have more power than many people in your organization to create the choices that all of us live by. Maybe like in medicine, where we have a Hippocratic oath to recognize the responsibility and this higher value that we have to treat patients.
Video examples
First Native Congresswoma...
thank you all so much I think the day she takes the oath of office a lot of people in Indian country will basically have chills really hard it's really important to reclaim the narrative and so I think in that sense job is bringing
Video examples
From enslavement to...
or trainer of gladiators. And life at the ludus, or gladiator school, was unforgiving. New recruits were forced to swear an oath “to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword,”
Video examples
The political power of...
Mind you, I didn't ask what he did to get such a gift. What blood oath -- I had no idea how he got it. But I looked at him and I said, "Well, how are we working together to open a health clinic,
Video examples
"All the World's a...
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation
Video examples
Why there's no such...
curses, oaths, souls and all kinds of mysterious energies and magical forces. Indeed the most important things in their real world were not humans at all, but gods. Why?
Video examples
Chinaka Hodge: What will...
This year, we were women, not brides or trinkets, not an off-brand gender, not a concession, but women. Instruct your babies. Remind them that the year has passed to be docile or small. Some of us said for the first time that we were women, took this oath of solidarity seriously.
Video examples
The myth of Loki and the...
and came to an agreement with the builder. He would only have one winter to complete the wall. If any part was unfinished by the first day of summer, he would receive no payment. And he could have no help from any other people. The gods sealed the deal with solemn oaths
Video examples
What everyday citizens...
so that every student entering an engineering program takes a technocratic oath or a wisdom oath or some oath of commitment to the rest of us. That's my best hope, that we all rise. Because governments and businesses will fight over this power game, but where are we?
Video examples
How do US Supreme Court...
the president issues a written appointment, allowing the nominee to complete the final steps to take the constitutional and judicial oaths. In doing so, they solemnly swear to administer justice without respect to persons and do equal right to the poor and the rich
Video examples
How better tech could...
Arguably, you have more power than many people in your organization to create the choices that all of us live by. Maybe like in medicine, where we have a Hippocratic oath to recognize the responsibility and this higher value that we have to treat patients.
Video examples
First Native Congresswoma...
thank you all so much I think the day she takes the oath of office a lot of people in Indian country will basically have chills really hard it's really important to reclaim the narrative and so I think in that sense job is bringing
Video examples
From enslavement to...
or trainer of gladiators. And life at the ludus, or gladiator school, was unforgiving. New recruits were forced to swear an oath “to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword,”
Video examples
The political power of...
Mind you, I didn't ask what he did to get such a gift. What blood oath -- I had no idea how he got it. But I looked at him and I said, "Well, how are we working together to open a health clinic,
Video examples
"All the World's a...
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation
Video examples
Why there's no such...
curses, oaths, souls and all kinds of mysterious energies and magical forces. Indeed the most important things in their real world were not humans at all, but gods. Why?
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Michael Winter
Canadian Writer
When you join the army, you are asked to lay down your life for your country. That is a tremendous oath to take. In return, a good country should offer that soldier every possible means it can to allow that soldier to stay alive and, upon return, healthy - both mentally and physically.
Quote examples
William Lacy Clay, Jr.
American Politician
We have to have a national conversation about how police forces should interact with the African-American community, who happens to be paying their salary, who want to be served and protected, who these officers are take an oath to do so.
Quote examples
Killer Mike
American Musician
The police are paid by the public and carry a public trust, and they take an oath to protect us as citizens. The police have lost sight of that and must be reminded that we pay them to protect us, not to simply engage and cage us.
Quote examples
Pimp C
We took an oath back when we were teenagers that this is UGK for life. We've actually got tattoos on our arms in the same place that says 'UGK for life.
Quote examples
Jan Brewer
American Politician
I took an oath to protect the people of Arizona, and that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to keep pushing in that direction.
Quote examples
Rafael Palmeiro
Cuban Athlete
When I testified in front of Congress, I know that I was testifying under oath and I told the truth.
Quote examples
Doug Ducey
American Politician
I took an oath of office to protect Arizona from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
Quote examples
Mary Harris Jones
American Activist
You know I took an oath to tell the truth when I took the witness stand.
Quote examples
Aeschylus
Greek Poet
I say you must not win an unjust case by oaths.
Quote examples
Plato
Greek Philosopher
There is no such thing as a lovers' oath.
Quote examples
Michael Winter
Canadian Writer
When you join the army, you are asked to lay down your life for your country. That is a tremendous oath to take. In return, a good country should offer that soldier every possible means it can to allow that soldier to stay alive and, upon return, healthy - both mentally and physically.
Quote examples
William Lacy Clay, Jr.
American Politician
We have to have a national conversation about how police forces should interact with the African-American community, who happens to be paying their salary, who want to be served and protected, who these officers are take an oath to do so.
Quote examples
Killer Mike
American Musician
The police are paid by the public and carry a public trust, and they take an oath to protect us as citizens. The police have lost sight of that and must be reminded that we pay them to protect us, not to simply engage and cage us.
Quote examples
Pimp C
We took an oath back when we were teenagers that this is UGK for life. We've actually got tattoos on our arms in the same place that says 'UGK for life.
Quote examples
Jan Brewer
American Politician
I took an oath to protect the people of Arizona, and that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to keep pushing in that direction.
Quote examples
Rafael Palmeiro
Cuban Athlete
When I testified in front of Congress, I know that I was testifying under oath and I told the truth.
Quote examples
Doug Ducey
American Politician
I took an oath of office to protect Arizona from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
Quote examples
Mary Harris Jones
American Activist
You know I took an oath to tell the truth when I took the witness stand.
Quote examples
Aeschylus
Greek Poet
I say you must not win an unjust case by oaths.
Quote examples
Plato
Greek Philosopher
There is no such thing as a lovers' oath.
Example 1 of 10
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