vast

Everyday

1. Extremely large in size, amount or area. tree →
2. «The vast majority» means nearly all. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and science: vast oceans, deserts, space. In stories: a vast hall or forest sets a scene that feels huge. In maths and data: «the vast majority» means much more than half, usually nearly all.

Examples

• The Pacific is a vast ocean. tree →
• Space is so vast that light takes years to cross it. tree →
• They walked across a vast, empty desert. tree →
• The vast majority of the class passed the test. tree →
• A vast crowd filled the stadium. tree →
• The library has a vast number of books. tree →
• Empty, vast, and cold were the halls of the Snow Queen. tree →

Note

Stronger than «big» or «large». «Vastly» = very much: vastly different. «The vast majority» is used with countable nouns and means far more than half.