vaunt
C1Literary, formal, archaic
Definition
Meaning
To boast or brag about something with excessive pride.
To speak or write about oneself or one's achievements in a way that shows excessive pride; to display something with ostentation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Vaunt" implies a showy, often public, and sometimes hollow form of boasting. It carries a slightly antiquated or poetic feel, often used in formal critique or historical/literary contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning or usage. It is equally rare and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries a slightly old-fashioned, literary connotation in both dialects. Can imply pretentiousness or empty pride.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both British and American English, found primarily in formal writing, literature, and rhetoric.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Sb] vaunt [sth][Sb] vaunt [sb/sth] as [adj/noun][Sb] vaunt about [sth]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The much-vaunted... (e.g., 'the much-vaunted new policy failed')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Occasionally in formal critiques: 'The company's much-vaunted commitment to sustainability was questioned.'
Academic
In literary analysis or historical texts: 'The poem vaunts the virtues of the fallen hero.'
Everyday
Extremely rare in everyday conversation.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He would often vaunt his family's connections to the aristocracy.
- The brochure vaunts the hotel as the most luxurious in the county.
American English
- The CEO vaunted the firm's quarterly profits during the press conference.
- Politicians should not vaunt their personal beliefs as national policy.
adverb
British English
- He spoke vauntingly of his past glories. (archaic/rare)
- The advertisement described the product vauntingly.
American English
- She vauntingly displayed her awards in the front hall. (archaic/rare)
- The manifesto was written vauntingly, promising unrealistic change.
adjective
British English
- The vaunted security system was easily bypassed. (past participle as adjective)
- His vaunted intellect failed him in the practical test.
American English
- Their much-vaunted innovation turned out to be a minor tweak.
- The vaunted champion was defeated in the first round.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The advertisement vaunts the car's new safety features.
- He is always vaunting his son's success at university.
- The article criticises the government's much-vaunted economic reforms as ineffective.
- Medieval poets would often vaunt the virtues and exploits of their patrons.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'VAUNT' as sounding like 'haunt' – a ghost might 'haunt' a house, but a braggart will 'vaunt' their achievements, making them loudly 'present' rather than a ghostly whisper.
Conceptual Metaphor
BOASTING IS PUBLIC DISPLAY / BOASTING IS A LOUD NOISE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить напрямую как "хвастаться" в разговорной речи, это слишком формально. Более точный контекстуальный перевод — "кичиться", "чваниться", "превозносить".
Common Mistakes
- Using it in casual speech. Incorrectly using it as a noun (the noun is 'vaunt', but it's even rarer). Confusing with 'flaunt' (to display, not necessarily with words).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'vaunt' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is quite rare and formal, mostly found in written English, literature, or formal criticism.
'Vaunt' is more formal, literary, and often implies a public, showy, or even pompous display of pride. 'Boast' is the standard, more common term.
Yes, but the noun form ('He spoke with great vaunt') is extremely archaic and almost never used in modern English.
They are related but not perfect synonyms. 'Flaunt' means to display something ostentatiously (e.g., flaunt wealth), which can be non-verbal. 'Vaunt' specifically refers to boasting with words or rhetoric.