vast

American  

[vast] / væst /

adjective

vaster, vastest

1. of very great area or extent; immense.

   the vast reaches of outer space.

   Synonyms:

   stupendous, colossal, gigantic, boundless, measureless

   Antonyms:

   small

2. of very great size or proportions; huge; enormous.

   vast piles of rubble left in the wake of the war.

3. very great in number, quantity, amount, etc..

   vast sums of money.

4. very great in degree, intensity, etc..

   an artisan of vast skill.

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noun

1. Literary. an immense or boundless expanse or space.

vast British  

/ vɑːst /

adjective

1. unusually large in size, extent, degree, or number; immense

2. (prenominal) (intensifier)

   in vast haste

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noun

1. poetic immense or boundless space

2. dialect a very great amount or number

Other Word Forms

• supervast adjective
• vastity noun
• vastly adverb
• vastness noun

Etymology

Origin of vast

First recorded in 1565–75, from Latin vastus “empty, immense”

Example Sentences

And it is one of nearly 200 companies in Apollo’s vast portfolio, which Black hasn’t overseen in five years.

From The Wall Street Journal

He controlled vast swathes of territory, especially in his home state of Jalisco.

From The Wall Street Journal

With NHL players returning to the Olympics following a 12-year absence, the Americans arrived here widely viewed as legitimate contenders, boasting a roster capable of competing with Canada’s vast collection of superstars.

From The Wall Street Journal

These frozen environments may contain vast stores of genetic material that have gone largely unexplored.

From Science Daily

There are five regional hospitals across the vast Arctic island, with the Nuuk hospital serving patients from all over the territory.

From Barron's

Related Words

• ample
• big
• boundless
• broad
• colossal
• endless
• enormous
• extensive
• far-flung
• far-reaching
• gigantic
• great
• huge
• immense
• infinite
• limitless
• mammoth
• massive
• monumental
• spacious