vast

play

adjective \ ˈvast \

Definition of vast

:very great in size, amount, degree, intensity, or especially in extent or range

vast knowledge

a vast expanse

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vastly

adverb

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vastness

play \ˈvas(t)-nəs\ noun

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Examples of vast in a Sentence

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 of vast from the Web

The pushback against casting white actors as characters that originally were Asian stems in part from what many Asian-American actors say is the dearth of significant parts in an industry where a vast majority of characters on-screen are white.

— herman wong, chicagotribune.com, "Actor Ed Skrein explains why he is backing out of the 'Hellboy' reboot after whitewashing criticism," 29 Aug. 2017
But still: The vast damage from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey is occurring on national television just as the federal flood-insurance program is up for reauthorization.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Harvey Makes the Case for Flood-Insurance Reform. It Also Makes It Politically Impossible.," 29 Aug. 2017
Both Europa, Jupiter's fourth-largest moon, and Enceladus, Saturn's sixth-largest moon, are worlds of icy crusts, and below these 5-to-10-mile-thick sheets of ice flow vast oceans that envelop the entire moons.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "The James Webb Space Telescope Will Study the Solar System's Watery Moons," 25 Aug. 2017
As the storm approaches the coast, many are worried about the vast impacts of the hurricane beyond the scope of the storm itself.

— brittney mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "Hurricane Harvey: What to Know," 25 Aug. 2017
One reason why: Some areas where witness trees may reside, like battlefields, are vast.

— mike yessis, Smithsonian, "These Five “Witness Trees” Were Present At Key Moments In America’s History," 25 Aug. 2017
In addition to sending out the Broad Memo to about 1,200 subscribers (the vast majority of whom live in New York), the group holds free monthly trainings to teach members how to understand — and change — their system of government.

— claire landsbaum, The Cut, "The Newsletter New York’s Women Activists Are Reading," 24 Aug. 2017
Many a meme has surfaced in recent weeks to challenge the absurdity of Game of Thrones Season 7, from the pacing to its movement of characters across vast swaths of land in a short period of time.

— julie kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Even a Major Twist Couldn't Save This Week's Episode of Game of Thrones," 22 Aug. 2017
Indeed, to use just one example, the fact that the identity of many buyers in New York’s newest condominiums is cloaked by the use of shell companies is unhelpful to anyone claiming that these vast incoming sums are mostly clean money.

— sami j. karam, National Review, "A Different Kind of Border Wall," 21 Aug. 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.

Origin and Etymology of vast

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1585

See Words from the same year

vast Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of vast

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

vast

noun

Definition of vast

:a boundless space

the vast of heaven
—John Milton

Recent Examples of vast from the Web

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