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vast

/væst/  ·  say it: VAST

of very great size or extent

In Describing & Comparing

In more detail

1. (adjective) very large in area, amount, or extent

2. (adjective) very great in degree or intensity

Examples

• 1. The vast ocean stretched out beyond the horizon.
• 2. He made a vast improvement in his English skills.

How to use vast

Vast emphasizes impressive scale or scope, often used for physical spaces, quantities, or abstract concepts like knowledge. It carries a sense of grandeur and is more formal and literary than simple 'big' or 'large,' making it common in academic, descriptive, and elevated discourse. It can also intensify expressions like 'vast majority' to mean an overwhelming portion.

Common phrases

• vast majority
• vast amount
• vast expanse
• vast landscape
• vast differences
• vast improvement

Synonyms

enormous · immense · huge · extensive · expansive

Opposites

tiny · small · limited

Word family

vastly (adverb) · vastness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'vast' for countable nouns in situations where it fits uneasily; 'vast' works best with uncountable nouns or plural countables referring to large groups (vast numbers, vast oceans) rather than single countable items.

Nearby in Describing & Comparing

drab, ornate, austere, minuscule, colossal, negligible

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained