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
Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024
We’re really drawn to a vault dweller (Ella Purnell), a member of the Brotherhood of Steel (Aaron Clifton Moten) and a Ghoul (Walton Goggins).
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024
There is far too much great work from the 20th century locked away in the vaults of collections like this one.
—Kriston Capps, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Ella Purnell has the tough task of functioning as the series’ emotional fulcrum, as Lucy straddles the wide-eyed innocence of vault life with the gore and amorality of what happens in the real world.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024
This could aid you in monetizing more, building a nest egg or even a vault of gold.
—Kyle Thomas, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
The Razorbacks did not stick their vault landings in the first rotation and wound up with a 49.05.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2024
Decorated on both sides and made of the rare metal tantalum, the triangular plate will seal the spacecraft’s sensitive electronics inside a vault to protect them from Jupiter’s harsh radiation.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024
Those that belong to the museum will go back in their vaults, but the rest will return to their rightful owners.
—Julia Carmel, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Xander Zellner, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Lieberman vaulted into the Senate by defeating moderate Republican incumbent Lowell Weicker in 1988.
—Susan Haigh, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
Conradt’s screenplay plays a lengthy second-act game of who’s-gaslighting-who, pitting one character’s rising paranoia against the other’s overstepping, and then swapping those positions for good measure, resolutely refusing to take sides until the story vaults itself to a new plane of absurdity.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024
Many of the rooms have vaulted and beamed ceilings, oversized windows that flood spaces with natural light, and direct access to the outdoors.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2024
Those improvements could be enough to vault Bona into the first round of the 2025 NBA draft.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
The single also vaults 20-14 on Rhythmic Airplay through a 36% increase in plays.
—Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 20 Mar. 2024
The win vaulted the Warriors over the Lakers in the standings and serves a step toward earning a tiebreaker.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024
His jumper and three-pointer helped spark the Bruins’ late 18-1 run against Arizona State that vaulted UCLA into a first-round game against No. 12 Oregon State (13-18) at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Noun
The documentary will re-premiere on Disney+ May 8, certain to be a red-letter day for Beatles fans who have spent most of their lives wondering if it would ever be let out of the vault again.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024
We’re really drawn to a vault dweller (Ella Purnell), a member of the Brotherhood of Steel (Aaron Clifton Moten) and a Ghoul (Walton Goggins).
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024
There is far too much great work from the 20th century locked away in the vaults of collections like this one.
—Kriston Capps, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Ella Purnell has the tough task of functioning as the series’ emotional fulcrum, as Lucy straddles the wide-eyed innocence of vault life with the gore and amorality of what happens in the real world.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024
This could aid you in monetizing more, building a nest egg or even a vault of gold.
—Kyle Thomas, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
The Razorbacks did not stick their vault landings in the first rotation and wound up with a 49.05.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2024
Decorated on both sides and made of the rare metal tantalum, the triangular plate will seal the spacecraft’s sensitive electronics inside a vault to protect them from Jupiter’s harsh radiation.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024
Those that belong to the museum will go back in their vaults, but the rest will return to their rightful owners.
—Julia Carmel, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
Artemas himself also vaults 42-11 on the Emerging Artists chart.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Lieberman vaulted into the Senate by defeating moderate Republican incumbent Lowell Weicker in 1988.
—Susan Haigh, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
Conradt’s screenplay plays a lengthy second-act game of who’s-gaslighting-who, pitting one character’s rising paranoia against the other’s overstepping, and then swapping those positions for good measure, resolutely refusing to take sides until the story vaults itself to a new plane of absurdity.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024
Many of the rooms have vaulted and beamed ceilings, oversized windows that flood spaces with natural light, and direct access to the outdoors.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2024
Those improvements could be enough to vault Bona into the first round of the 2025 NBA draft.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
The single also vaults 20-14 on Rhythmic Airplay through a 36% increase in plays.
—Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 20 Mar. 2024
The win vaulted the Warriors over the Lakers in the standings and serves a step toward earning a tiebreaker.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024
His jumper and three-pointer helped spark the Bruins’ late 18-1 run against Arizona State that vaulted UCLA into a first-round game against No. 12 Oregon State (13-18) at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
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 19 Apr. 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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