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vaulting

1 American  
[vawl-ting] / ˈvɔl tɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act or process of constructing vaults. vault.

  2. the structure forming a vault.

  3. a vault, vaulted vault vaulted ceiling, etc., or such structures collectively.


vaulting 2 American  
[vawl-ting] / ˈvɔl tɪŋ /

adjective

  1. leaping up or over.

  2. used in vaulting.

    a vaulting pole.

  3. excessive in ambition or presumption; overweening; high-flown.

    vaulting ambition;

    vaulting pride.


vaulting 1 British  
/ ˈvɔːltɪŋ /

adjective

  1. excessively confident; overreaching; exaggerated

    vaulting arrogance

  2. used to vault

    a vaulting pole

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

vaulting 2 British  
/ ˈvɔːltɪŋ /

noun

  1. one or more vaults in a building or such structures considered collectively

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of vaulting1

First recorded in 1505–15; vault 1 + -ing 1

Origin of vaulting2

First recorded in 1525–35; vault 2 + -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Is there a class of people with more vaulting self-belief or more stunted self-awareness than America’s journalists?

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Nomali is a parkour legend and uses those skills - running, jumping, climbing, and vaulting over obstacles - to retrieve 70 African sacred and cultural objects.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

The VIX rallied 25% to start the week, vaulting above its 200-day simple moving average and approaching the very round $20 number.

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

Polls in the last couple of days have shown him taking a serious hit, perhaps even vaulting Miyares into the lead.

From Slate • Oct. 11, 2025

As fast as I possibly can, dodging a luggage steward, vaulting over suitcases, and picking up speed midair.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin