vault
B2Neutral to formal, depending on context.
Definition
Meaning
A secure room or compartment for storing valuables, especially in a bank.
A roof or ceiling formed as an arch, a burial chamber, or an act of leaping over something using one's hands or a pole for support.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word primarily denotes secure storage but has strong architectural (arch, roof) and athletic (leap) meanings. The verb forms (to vault something; to vault over something) are productive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and usage are identical. Slight preference for 'safe' in generic everyday contexts over 'vault' in both varieties.
Connotations
Bank vault: strong connotations of security and wealth. Vault (gymnastics): standard term in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. Architectural 'vault' is more common in historical/academic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to vault (over) [OBJECT]to vault [OBJECT] (with a pole)to be stored in a vaultthe vault of [PLACE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “vault into fame/prominence (suddenly become famous/successful)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to secure storage for documents, cash, or data ('data vault').
Academic
Common in architecture (e.g., 'barrel vault'), archaeology ('burial vault'), and finance.
Everyday
Most commonly associated with bank security or the pole vault event in athletics.
Technical
In IT, can refer to password managers or secure backup systems.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The burglar attempted to vault the security gate.
- She vaulted into first place with that brilliant performance.
American English
- He vaulted over the fence to retrieve the ball.
- The startup vaulted to industry leadership in just two years.
adverb
British English
- This word is not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- This word is not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Vault-like security is essential for the new data centre.
- The cathedral's vaulted ceilings are magnificent.
American English
- The room had a vaulted ceiling that made it feel spacious.
- They built a vault-like safe room in the basement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The money is kept in a big bank vault.
- He can jump very high.
- The museum keeps its oldest paintings in a climate-controlled vault.
- The gymnast prepared for her vault.
- After the successful product launch, the company vaulted ahead of its competitors.
- The ancient burial vault was discovered by archaeologists.
- The gothic architecture is characterised by its intricate ribbed vaults.
- Her groundbreaking research vaulted her into academic prominence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a VAULT in a bank – it has a very ALT (high) level of security. Or, an athlete VAULTS over a high VAULTing horse.
Conceptual Metaphor
SECURITY IS A SEALED CONTAINER (bank vault); SUDDEN SUCCESS IS A PHYSICAL LEAP (vault to the top).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'volt' (вольт).
- The athletic 'vault' is not 'прыжок' but 'опорный прыжок' (in gymnastics).
- Architectural 'vault' is 'свод', not 'купол' (dome).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He vaulted the fence easily.' (Correct: 'He vaulted over the fence.')
- Confusing 'vault' (leap) with 'volt' (electricity).
- Using 'vault' for a simple cupboard or locker.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'vault' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its most common association is with bank security, it also refers to architectural arches (e.g., cathedral vaults), burial chambers, and the act of leaping (e.g., pole vault).
A vault is typically a large, walk-in room or compartment built into a structure. A safe is a smaller, movable metal box. A vault often contains many safes.
Use it with 'over' to mean jump over (He vaulted over the wall). Use it without a preposition to mean propel oneself (She vaulted onto the stage) or metaphorically to rise suddenly (The song vaulted to number one).
Yes, etymologically. It comes from the verb meaning 'to leap or spring', which shares an origin with the Italian 'voltare' (to turn). The 'pole' is the tool used to achieve the leap.