vastly

Everyday

1. Very much; to a very great degree. tree →
2. Over a very large area or amount. tree →

In the lessons

It makes a comparison or a description much stronger: "vastly bigger", "vastly different", "vastly improved". In maths and science it tells the reader the difference is very large, but it is not an exact number. Phrases: "vastly different", "vastly better", "vastly outnumbered".

Examples

• The Sun is vastly bigger than the Earth. tree →
• My handwriting has vastly improved this term. tree →
• The two stories are vastly different. tree →
• The defenders were vastly outnumbered by the attackers. tree →
• A blue whale is vastly heavier than an elephant. tree →
• Life today is vastly different from life in the Middle Ages. tree →
• The new game is vastly better than the old one. tree →
• All this admiration vastly pleased the Queen. tree →

Note

Adverb from "vast" (very large). It usually goes before an adjective or a verb like "improve", "increase" or "differ". In maths, "vastly bigger" tells you the difference is huge, but you still need the real numbers to calculate.