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

Don't Forget the Clit The vast majority of women don't orgasm from penetration alone—and that's perfectly okay. — Suzannah Weiss, Glamour, "9 Tips for How to Have an Orgasm," 27 Mar. 2019 The 2018 tournament brought in $844.3 million in television and marketing rights, the vast majority from a contract with CBS and Turner Sports to televise the games. — Larry Fenn, The Seattle Times, "Money Madness: AP analysis shows growing gap in NCAA payouts," 27 Mar. 2019 The vast majority of the patients Face Forward treats — about 70 percent — are survivors of domestic violence like Gentry, many of whom have injuries even more severe. — Macaela Mackenzie, Allure, "Nonprofit Face Forward Changes the Lives of Domestic Violence Survivors With Free Plastic Surgery," 26 Mar. 2019 This particular ambition—of reaching the vast majority of TV sets in the world—is very important and the message is urgent. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "David Attenborough's Our Planet: What We Know About the New Netflix Show," 25 Mar. 2019 For the vast majority of trans women, FFS is not an attainable reality; in performing FFS procedures, surgeons are upholding an idealized notion of feminine beauty, but making it accessible only to a few. — Serena Daniari, Allure, "The Complicated Process of Undergoing Facial-Feminization Surgery, and Why I Did It," 23 Mar. 2019 In many shots, characters are framed in the center of a vast, looming environment that threatens to engulf them. — Aja Romano, Vox, "Why Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist still resonates today," 3 Dec. 2018 But these plains are vast, and not everything on offer presents a clear vision. — Daniel Starkey, Ars Technica, "Red Dead Redemption II review: Getting muddy in the wide-open frontier," 25 Oct. 2018 Split your days between walks on vast, near-empty beaches and drives along colorful, canopied country roads. — Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, "Beautiful Places to See New England Fall Foliage This Year," 5 Oct. 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