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

Still, the vast majority of Woodstock attendees got through the three days unharmed. — Currie Engel, Time, "People Were Born and Died at Woodstock. Here Are Their Stories," 9 Aug. 2019 Yet even as the threat from al Qaeda and ISIS has waned, the vast majority of U.S. government counterterrorism resources remain directed at international terrorism, according to congressional testimony. — Ken Dilanian, NBC News, "There is no law that covers 'domestic terrorism.' What would one look like?," 9 Aug. 2019 Evans agreed, noting 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health challenge in their lifetime, and the vast majority are nonviolent. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, "Trump said 'mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger' in mass shootings. Experts beg to differ.," 8 Aug. 2019 The vast majority are 2,000-3,000 lb vehicles carrying one to two passengers at most. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, "Uber lost over $5 billion in one quarter, but don’t worry, it gets worse," 8 Aug. 2019 But the vast majority of these are dog owners: 85% vs. just 21% of people who travel with a cat, according to a survey by PetRelocation, a service that helps families travel with their pets. — Special To The Washington Post, The Denver Post, "What happened when we took our cats on a beach vacation," 8 Aug. 2019 That allowed Tap Room to run five video slot and poker machines, the legal limit at the time, which the vast majority of truck stops had. — Jason Grotto, ProPublica, "From Truck Stops to Elections, a River of Gambling Money Is Flooding Waukegan," 8 Aug. 2019 In addition, the vast majority of drivers will not give up their vehicles, nor are government leaders telling them to. — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Pomerado News, "Transit planners: If 10 percent of drivers opt out, everyone benefits," 8 Aug. 2019 Moreover, that bill criminalised begging, which not only forms a part of the trans culture in South Asia but is also the only means of survival available to the vast majority of transgender people abandoned by their families. — Anish Gawande, Quartz India, "Transgender citizens: The other “integral part of India” that may have been shortchanged by its parliament," 6 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Furthermore, it could be easily scaled up, thereby opening vasts swaths of the universe to observation without the hefty price tag associated with building large, solid telescopes. — Daniel Oberhaus, WIRED, "New Space Telescopes Could Look Like Giant Beach Balls," 11 June 2019 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