Definition of VAST

Choose the Right Synonym for vast

Adjective

enormous, immense, huge, vast, gigantic, colossal, mammoth mean exceedingly large. enormous and immense both suggest an exceeding of all ordinary bounds in size or amount or degree, but enormous often adds an implication of abnormality or monstrousness. an enormous expense an immense shopping mall huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount. incurred a huge debt vast usually suggests immensity of extent. the vast Russian steppes gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind. a gigantic sports stadium colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions. a colossal statue of Lincoln mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk. a mammoth boulder

Examples of vast in a Sentence

Adjective

She has a vast amount of knowledge on this subject. The policy is supported by the vast majority of citizens. a vast expanse of land

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The official vote count has been denounced by Congo’s powerful Catholic Church, which had some 40,000 observers monitoring polling stations and ballot-compilation centers across the vast, resource-rich former Belgian colony. — Gabriele Steinhauser, WSJ, "Congo Opposition Candidate Fayulu Appeals Election Results," 12 Jan. 2019 Because of Victoria's vast lineage, the disorder was passed on to the members of royal and noble families across Europe. — Chanel Vargas, Town & Country, "15 Fascinating Facts You Didn't Know About Queen Victoria," 8 Jan. 2019 In May of this year, the US House Intelligence Committee published a vast trove of Facebook and Instagram ads from Russian organizations that intended to influence the election outcome. — Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, "Talk amongst yourselves: 2018’s most-commented stories on Ars," 24 Dec. 2018 Ahead of us, the horizon looked like the edge of the world, marked by vast reaches of sky. — Stanley Stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, "Going Off-Grid in Namibia," 21 Dec. 2018 Pushing through the vast expanse of space at 31,500 MPH (50,700 KMH), even the tiniest unexpected ice or dust particle could render the piano-sized craft inoperable. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "New Horizons Will Spend New Years Exploring Ultima Thule, a Billion Miles Past Pluto," 19 Dec. 2018 The Western Front, in terms of the British Army, is not that vast. — Eric Johnson, Recode, "How Peter Jackson’s team made World War I footage look new," 15 Dec. 2018 Legislators in both parties have broadly agreed that vast improvements are still needed. — Joseph O’sullivan, The Seattle Times, "Inslee unveils $675 million plan to reverse crisis in Washington’s mental-health system," 12 Dec. 2018 Based in Windsor, Frogmore Cottage isn't a vast distance to travel from central London, and with a baby on the way, Meghan and Harry probably want to have a family base outside of the city. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "What Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Kensington Palace Split Means for the Royal Family," 24 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

That is a more ticklish argument: the obstruction laws are complicated and the ambit of presidential power vast. — The Economist, "Donald Trump’s powers are not quite as vast as his lawyers claim," 7 June 2018 As a Cold War-era child who did drop-and-cover nuclear-attack drills under my desk, I’d been ingrained with ominous, gray images of Soviet military tanks rolling through the vast cobbled landmark. — Norma Meyer, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Beauty, history, people make Russia trip memorable," 20 Sep. 2017 Near Potsdam, and a stone’s throw from the breathtaking gardens of Sanssouci Palace, lies Templiner See: Vast and choppy, there’s a seaside holiday vibe in the air. — Alexandra Pereira, CNT, "Why Swimming Is the Ultimate Berlin Summer Pastime," 9 Aug. 2017 A clatter of gunshots suggested the worst The Brillante was built like two rectangles joined at a right angle: one vast, flat, hollow shape that held the liquid cargo, and one smaller, upright stack that contained mechanical systems and crew spaces. — Bloomberg.com, "The Hijacking of the Brillante Virtuoso," 27 July 2017 Vast and growing databases compiled for commerce and policing are also for sale to politicians and their strategists, who can now know more about you than your spouse or parents. — Nina Burleigh, Newsweek, "How Big Data Mines Personal Info to Craft Fake News and Manipulate Voters," 8 June 2017 Vast sums must be invested to build refineries and smelters to turn that ore into metal. — James R. Hagerty, WSJ, "Alcan CEO David Culver Bet on Aluminum and Quebec," 10 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vast.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for vast

Adjective

borrowed from Latin vāstus or vastus "devoid of habitation, desolate, dreary," also, "of great size, immense," probably in part continuing Indo-European *h₁u̯eh₂-sto- (whence Old High German wuosti "empty, deserted," Old English wēste, Old Irish fás), in part conflated with another base *wast- of uncertain origin

Noun