vast
English meaning: Vast
Definition
Extremely large in area or extent, especially of open space.
Example
“The explorers travelled for weeks across the vast and empty desert plains.”
Another example: “The vast majority of voters supported the proposal.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Slightly formal and somewhat literary; emphasises great extent, especially of open space, distance or abstract quantity ('a vast desert', 'a vast majority'). Less used of small physical objects. The adverb 'vastly' is common.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'vastus' (empty, immense), related to 'waste'.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- a vast majority
- a vast desert
- vast amounts
- vast experience
- vastly different
Word Forms
vast (adj); vaster; vastest; vastly (adv); vastness (n)
Word Tools
Tools & Calculators
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B