vastness

[vast-nis]

noun

1. the fact or quality of being very great in extent, size, degree, amount, etc.; immensity or hugeness.

   Given the vastness of the country, improved infrastructure will have to precede any economic development.

   I was awestruck by the sheer vastness of her knowledge on the subject.

Other Word Forms

• supervastness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vastness¹

First recorded in 1600–10; vast ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

No GoPro or camera can capture the vastness of the ocean for someone back on shore.

From Los Angeles Times

The vastness reminds him of the ocean, where constantly shifting tides mean that no two trips yield the same experience.

From Los Angeles Times

The vastness of the building site was at first overwhelming for the young Ethiopian mechanical engineer.

From BBC

Floating in the vastness of unknowable space, our miniscule planet contains all of our stories — victories and tragedies orbiting around a dying star.

From Los Angeles Times

The blue too — in the film, there’s lots of ties to water and the vastness of the ocean.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• expanse