Illustration of vault
- vault 1a
1
a
: an arched structure of masonry usually forming a ceiling or roof
b
: something (such as the sky) resembling a vault
c
: an arched or dome-shaped anatomical structure
the cranial vault
2
a
: a space covered by an arched structure
especially
: an underground passage or room
b
: an underground storage compartment
c
: a room or compartment for the safekeeping of valuables
3
a
: a burial chamber
b
: a prefabricated container usually of metal or concrete into which a casket is placed at burial
vaulted; vaulting; vaults
1
: to leap vigorously
especially
: to execute a leap using the hands or a pole
2
: to do or achieve something as if by a leap
vaulted to sudden prominence
: to leap over
especially
: to leap over by or as if by aid of the hands or a pole
Synonyms
Examples of vault in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 24 Dec. 2023
Mark drove back to Omaha and stored the games in a vault.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2023
Local legend holds that a teenager named Norman Nash developed the recipe in his family's home kitchen in 1921, but these days the secret formula stays hidden in a bank vault.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2023
Not for the first time, Swift broke the internet and Google crashed, leaving fans frustrated and confused when the blue vault failed to show.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 13 Dec. 2023
First look photos released last week teased life inside the vaults, where citizens took shelter and stayed safe during the nuclear fallout.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 1 Dec. 2023
The vault, which is funded by the Norwegian government, provides long-term storage for seed samples to ensure security of the world’s food supply in case of natural disasters or other extraordinary events.
—Kaetlyn Liddy, NBC News, 20 Nov. 2023
But Paramount does have vast vaults of movies, TV shows and other forms of content that can help bulk up WBD’s streaming platforms, and have remake/reboot/reimagining potential in the present IP-crazy marketplace.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Dec. 2023
The zoning administrator and the clerk sit nearby, not far from the cast-iron vaults that hold Pawlet’s record books.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2023
Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Dec. 2023
Highlights include a spacious living room with multiple French doors that open to the tree-shaded gardens, while twin arches flank a double-sided fireplace and lead into a skylit kitchen with a vaulted, wood-beam ceiling and a premium stainless appliances.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 16 Dec. 2023
His team vaulted from the midfield to become a regular finisher on the podium in 2023, a year in which its new factory opened in Silverstone, England, as part of its long-term title aspirations.
—Phillip Horton, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2023
Gemini, a new type of AI model that can work with text, images, and video, could be the most important algorithm in Google’s history after PageRank, which vaulted the search engine into the public psyche and created a corporate giant.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2023
To qualify for the playoffs, Angel City (7-7-7), which has lost just once since Becki Tweed took over as coach in mid-June, needs to vault over at least two teams and into the top six in the 12-team NWSL table.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2023
Outside of the polar oceans, April’s average global sea surface temperature had vaulted to a record-high seasonal value, and sea temperatures continued shattering records every day through September.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2023
Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, Michael Bublé’s chart-topping Christmas returns, vaulting 24-9.
—Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 3 Dec. 2023
Buoyed by the youth vote, the party vaulted from five to 23 deputies in the 160-seat Congress.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2023
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Noun
The Gilded Acorn is a coffee shop and patisserie, while the Library of Distilled Spirits is a cocktail bar in the former bank vault.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 24 Dec. 2023
Mark drove back to Omaha and stored the games in a vault.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2023
Local legend holds that a teenager named Norman Nash developed the recipe in his family's home kitchen in 1921, but these days the secret formula stays hidden in a bank vault.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2023
Not for the first time, Swift broke the internet and Google crashed, leaving fans frustrated and confused when the blue vault failed to show.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 13 Dec. 2023
First look photos released last week teased life inside the vaults, where citizens took shelter and stayed safe during the nuclear fallout.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 1 Dec. 2023
The vault, which is funded by the Norwegian government, provides long-term storage for seed samples to ensure security of the world’s food supply in case of natural disasters or other extraordinary events.
—Kaetlyn Liddy, NBC News, 20 Nov. 2023
But Paramount does have vast vaults of movies, TV shows and other forms of content that can help bulk up WBD’s streaming platforms, and have remake/reboot/reimagining potential in the present IP-crazy marketplace.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Dec. 2023
The zoning administrator and the clerk sit nearby, not far from the cast-iron vaults that hold Pawlet’s record books.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2023
Verb
Harris vaulted a short wall at the end of the cart corral and turned back toward Elliott, gun in hand.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Dec. 2023
Highlights include a spacious living room with multiple French doors that open to the tree-shaded gardens, while twin arches flank a double-sided fireplace and lead into a skylit kitchen with a vaulted, wood-beam ceiling and a premium stainless appliances.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 16 Dec. 2023
His team vaulted from the midfield to become a regular finisher on the podium in 2023, a year in which its new factory opened in Silverstone, England, as part of its long-term title aspirations.
—Phillip Horton, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2023
Gemini, a new type of AI model that can work with text, images, and video, could be the most important algorithm in Google’s history after PageRank, which vaulted the search engine into the public psyche and created a corporate giant.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2023
To qualify for the playoffs, Angel City (7-7-7), which has lost just once since Becki Tweed took over as coach in mid-June, needs to vault over at least two teams and into the top six in the 12-team NWSL table.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2023
Outside of the polar oceans, April’s average global sea surface temperature had vaulted to a record-high seasonal value, and sea temperatures continued shattering records every day through September.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2023
Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, Michael Bublé’s chart-topping Christmas returns, vaulting 24-9.
—Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 3 Dec. 2023
Buoyed by the youth vote, the party vaulted from five to 23 deputies in the 160-seat Congress.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vault.' 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 (1)
Middle English vaute, voute, borrowed from Anglo-French voute, volte, going back to Vulgar Latin *volvita "turn, arched structure," noun derivative from feminine of *volvitus, re-formation of Latin volūtus, past participle of volvere "to travel (a circular course), bring round, roll" — more at wallow entry 1
Verb (1)
Middle English vowten, borrowed from Anglo-French vouter, verbal derivative of voute vault entry 1
Verb (2)
probably borrowed from Middle French vouster "to turn about (on horseback), wheel, prance," going back to Vulgar Latin *volvitāre, frequentative of Latin volvere "to travel (a circular course), bring round, roll" — more at wallow entry 1
Noun (2)
noun derivative of vault entry 3
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
1538, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1576, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of vault was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing vault
Dictionary Entries Near vault
Cite this Entry
“Vault.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vault. Accessed 9 Jan. 2024.
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Kids Definition
vault
1 of 3 noun1
a
: an arched structure of stone or concrete forming a ceiling or roof
b
: an arch or dome suggesting a vault
the vault of the sky
2
: a room or compartment for storage or safekeeping
a bank vault
3
: a burial chamber
vault
2 of 3 verb
: to leap or leap over with the aid of the hands or a pole
vaulter
noun
vault
3 of 3 noun
: an act of vaulting : leap
Medical Definition
vault
noun
: an arched or dome-shaped anatomical structure: as
b
More from Merriam-Webster on vault
Nglish: Translation of vault for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of vault for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vault
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