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
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 ease
Noun (2)
a vault over the car's hood by the frightened deer
Recent Examples on the Web
Ray Parisi, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2025
The documentary included both vault footage and interviews with more than 70 people.
—Rachel Desantis, People.com, 7 Feb. 2025
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2025
Christian Marquardt/Getty Images While Elon Musk has vaulted into a powerful role overhauling government agencies and upending Washington, the world's richest person has suffered a $106 billion drop in wealth due to steep decline in shares of his Tesla electric car company.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for vault 
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Noun
The 18-person dining room table and the back wall of the glass wine vault are carved from Patagonia-Brazilian onyx.
—Ray Parisi, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2025
The documentary included both vault footage and interviews with more than 70 people.
—Rachel Desantis, People.com, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
After the show, the song’s streams briefly vaulted from 1,000 streams a day to 20,000.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2025
Christian Marquardt/Getty Images While Elon Musk has vaulted into a powerful role overhauling government agencies and upending Washington, the world's richest person has suffered a $106 billion drop in wealth due to steep decline in shares of his Tesla electric car company.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for vault
Dictionary Entries Near vault
Cite this Entry
“Vault.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vault. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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