Noun (1)
archaeologists were thrilled to discover an ancient vault that hadn't been looted by grave robbers Verb (2)vaulted over the obstacle with easeNoun (2)
a vault over the car's hood by the frightened deer
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
By emphasizing the caper aspect and the goofy comedy of all this over the intricate plotting that is a hallmark of Westlake’s novels, Black lowers the stakes of a heist that involves halting a speeding NY subway refuse train and busting into a supposedly impenetrable Brooklyn vault.—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025 Miles Mykkanen’s Sam gets to unsheathe his glinting high tenor, and Lauren Snouffer’s 14-year-old Sarah tosses her lithe soprano voice into airborne vaults.—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
China has welcomed a growing number of academics from the US and around the world in recent years, as the country’s own capabilities and ambitions in the sciences have vaulted higher.—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025 While Järnkrok skated on ostensibly the Leafs’ fifth line at their most recent full practice, Berube vaulted him up to the team’s top line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander against the Montreal Canadiens in Saturday’s preseason game.—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vault
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 voutevault 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
Share