vast

[ vast ]

adjective

, vast·er, vast·est.

1. of very great area or extent; immense:

   the vast reaches of outer space.

   Synonyms: stupendous, colossal, gigantic, boundless, measureless

   Antonyms: small

2. of very great size or proportions; huge; enormous:

   vast piles of rubble left in the wake of the war.

3. very great in number, quantity, amount, etc.:

   vast sums of money.

4. very great in degree, intensity, etc.:

   an artisan of vast skill.

noun

1. Literary. an immense or boundless expanse or space.

vast

/ vɑːst /

adjective

1. unusually large in size, extent, degree, or number; immense
2. prenominal (intensifier)

   in vast haste

noun

1. the vast poetic.
   the vast immense or boundless space
2. dialect.
   a very great amount or number

Derived Forms

• ˈvastness, noun
• ˈvastly, adverb
• ˈvastity, noun

Other Words From

• vast·ly adverb
• vast·ness noun
• su·per·vast adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vast¹

First recorded in 1565–75, from Latin vastus “empty, immense”

Word History and Origins

Origin of vast¹

C16: from Latin vastus deserted

Example Sentences

Let’s take those steps that the vast majority of health-care stakeholders support .

From Washington Post

Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of founders follow the directed course.

From TechCrunch

Voice technology has drastically improved and has become a major digital trend with a vast range of voice-activated technology like Siri, Alexa, Echo, Cortana, and Google Assistant.

From Search Engine Watch

The vast majority of people there are not paying full price.

From Time

Shops, restaurants and schools in Washington were closed, and the vast majority of residents had been told to stay home whenever possible.

From Washington Post

Though this too is debatable given that 25,000 to 40,000 people a year die of influenza—the vast majority of them unvaccinated.

From The Daily Beast

In other words, this is a very small vast-right-wing-conspiracy.

From The Daily Beast

With its vast web of resources and services, including its support groups, the Center has often helped save these people lives.

From The Daily Beast

It would be difficult to find an issue with less resonance with the vast majority of voters than climate change.

From The Daily Beast

What qualifies as vast enough, as comprehensive enough, as representative enough to faithfully render a city and its people?

From The Daily Beast

For example, there is a vast discussion afoot upon the questions that centre upon Property, its rights and its limitations.

From Project Gutenberg

This was a vast building of classical design, resembling a Grecian temple.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the whole State became one vast armed camp, nearly forty thousand men on a side, arrayed against each other.

From Project Gutenberg

The endless miles of railways, the vast apparatus of the factories, the soaring structures of the cities bear easy witness to it.

From Project Gutenberg

A vast mountain of green water lifted up its bulk and fell upon us in a ravening cataract.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ample
• big
• boundless
• broad
• colossal
• endless
• enormous
• extensive
• far-flung
• far-reaching
• gigantic
• great
• huge
• immense
• infinite
• limitless
• mammoth
• massive
• monumental
• spacious