adjective

vaulted

/ˈvɔːltɪd/ · say it: VÔL·tid

having an arched roof or ceiling

In Architecture & Design

In more detail

1. (adjective) having an arched roof or ceiling

2. (adjective) built or constructed with a vault

3. (verb) past tense of vault; jumped or leaped over something, often using hands or a pole

Examples

1. The church had a beautiful vaulted ceiling that stretched high above us.
2. The vaulted chamber beneath the castle stored treasures for centuries.
3. The gymnast vaulted over the horse with perfect form.

How to use vaulted

As an adjective describing architecture, vaulted refers to a distinctive structural feature with aesthetic appeal, commonly found in churches and grand buildings. As the past tense verb, it describes an athletic or acrobatic action of jumping over an obstacle. The architectural sense is formal and technical; the verb sense is less common in everyday speech but appears in sports and narrative contexts.

Common phrases

vaulted ceiling
vaulted arch
vaulted chamber
vaulted over the fence
vaulted into

Synonyms

arched · curved · domed · leaped · jumped

Opposites

flat · level · crawled

Word family

vault (noun/verb) · vaulting (noun/adjective) · vaulter (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse the architectural adjective 'vaulted' with 'vaulting' and may incorrectly use 'vault' as a simple past when the context requires the adjective form.

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