vast
vahst
Vast (adj) means Extremely large in size, extent, or amount. Example: “The desert stretched out in a vast, empty expanse.”
adj
1
Extremely large in size, extent, or amount.
"The desert stretched out in a vast, empty expanse."
"She inherited a vast fortune from her grandfather."
"The library holds a vast collection of maps from all over the world."
noun
1
A huge, open space (usually literary).
"The astronaut stared out into the vast of space."
"The poet wrote of ships lost in the vast of the endless grey sea."
"Under the night sky, he felt tiny against the vast above him."
How to use vast
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHuge — used for size, amount, or scale.
Common pairings
a vast area
vast amounts of
a vast majority
vast wealth
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Word forms
- Plural
- vasts
- Comparative
- vaster, more vast
- Superlative
- vastest, most vast
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The desert stretched out in a _____, empty expanse.
Etymology
From Latin vastus, meaning "empty" or "immense" — the same root that gives us "waste" and "devastate."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for vast
See all rhymes for vast →Frequently asked questions
What does “vast” mean?
The word “vast” means extremely large in size, extent, or amount. In plain terms, huge — used for size, amount, or scale.
How do you pronounce “vast”?
“Vast” is pronounced vahst (/væst/ in IPA).
How do you use “vast” in a sentence?
Here is “vast” used in a sentence: “The desert stretched out in a vast, empty expanse.”
What part of speech is “vast”?
Depending on how it is used, “vast” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “vast” come from?
The word “vast” comes from Latin. From Latin vastus, meaning "empty" or "immense" — the same root that gives us "waste" and "devastate.".
Is “vast” a common word?
“Vast” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “vast” have?
“Vast” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely large in size, extent, or amount.
What is the difference between vast and huge?
Both mean very large, but 'huge' stresses sheer size, while 'vast' emphasises great extent or expanse. You would call a single building huge, but a desert or an ocean vast, because vast suggests something stretching far in every direction. Vast also sounds slightly more formal.
What is an example of vast?
Vast typically describes things that spread over a great area or amount: a vast desert, the vast ocean, a vast fortune, or a vast crowd. It also works figuratively, as in a vast difference of opinion or a vast body of knowledge stretching beyond easy measure.
What is the opposite of vast?
The opposites of vast are words like 'tiny,' 'small,' 'minuscule,' and 'minute,' all describing something very limited in size or extent. 'Narrow' and 'cramped' also contrast with it when space is meant. Where vast suggests boundless scale, these words suggest something confined or negligible.
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