vaunt

American  

[vawnt, vahnt] / vɔnt, vɑnt /

verb (used with object)

1. to speak vaingloriously of; boast of.

   to vaunt one's achievements.

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verb (used without object)

1. to speak boastfully; brag.

noun

1. a boastful action or utterance.

vaunt British  

/ vɔːnt /

verb

1. (tr) to describe, praise, or display (one's success, possessions, etc) boastfully

2. rare (intr) to use boastful language; brag

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noun

1. a boast

2. archaic ostentatious display

Other Word Forms

• outvaunt verb (used with object)
• vaunter noun
• vauntingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of vaunt

1350–1400; Middle English vaunten < Middle French vanter to boast < Late Latin vānitāre, frequentative of *vānāre, derivative of Latin vānus vain. See vanity

Explanation

To vaunt is to brag and boast and flaunt and go on and on about how great something is. It's over-the-top showing off, and when you exaggerate your greatness, you vaunt to the point of no longer seeming so great. From the Latin vānitāre — which comes from vānus, meaning "vain" or "empty" — vaunt is a verb for taking praise too far or talking something up too much. Even if it's earned or deserved bragging, vaunting about something gets old and loses its impact. Other times, vaunt, as a noun, is a sure sign that a hard sell is going on — someone is talking big but can't deliver.

Example Sentences

One of Europe's hottest tickets, Swedish startup Lovable, is sending boss Anton Osika to vaunt its technology that allows users to create apps and websites via a chatbot without coding experience.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

When one warrior wins, typically the victory is punctuated by a witty defamatory "vaunt" that signals the champion's prowess and the loser's now-verified inadequacy.

From Salon • Nov. 27, 2021

Mr Johnson will also be keen to vaunt the success of the vaccines programme and, with the economy improving, project a sense of optimism.

From BBC • Sep. 16, 2021

Phoenix has equaled Connecticut's nine-game winning streak to vaunt into contention to earn at least one bye in the playoffs.

From Fox News • Sep. 7, 2021

Then came a rasping sound as those bright doors the key had sprung gave way— a bellow like a bull’s vaunt in a meadow— followed by her light footfall entering over the plank floor.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer