American English
/vɛst̚/
One syllable.
a sleeveless piece of clothing worn over a shirt, often as part of a suit
Practice out louda sleeveless piece of clothing worn over a shirt, often as part of a suit
He wore a black vest with his suit.
The vest has four small pockets.
In American English, vest usually means a garment worn over a shirt. In British English, vest often means an undershirt.
suit vest · vest pocket · buttoned vest
wear a vest over a shirt
a vest as part of a suit
a sleeveless piece of clothing worn for a special purpose, such as protection, warmth, or visibility
Everyone must wear a life vest on the boat.
The road worker put on a reflective vest.
life vest · bulletproof vest · safety vest · reflective vest
to officially give a person or group a legal right, power, or property
The law vests power in the courts.
The agreement vests ownership in the buyer.
This meaning is mainly used in legal or business writing.
vest authority in someone
vest property in someone
to become legally owned or available after a set time or condition
Her stock options vest after four years.
The pension benefits vest in the employee over time.
For this meaning, the shares or rights usually come before the person who receives them.
vesting period · vested shares
shares vest after three years
shares vest in an employee
a personal benefit or strong reason for wanting a particular result
She has a vested interest in the project succeeding.
to legally give power, property, or rights to someone or something
The constitution vests authority in Congress.
the time before shares or benefits legally become yours
The company has a three-year vesting period.