From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishvastvast /vɑːst $ væst/ ●●○ W2 adjective 1 BIGextremely large SYN hugevast amounts/numbers/quantities/sums etc (of something) The government will have to borrow vast amounts of money. The refugees come across the border in vast numbers.vast areas/expanses/tracts etc (of something) vast areas of rainforest In the past five years, there has been a vast improvement in graduation rates.► see thesaurus at big2 → the vast majority (of something) —vastness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
vast• These, plus a host of varying expectations, require vast amounts of communication.• a vast area of waste land• Vast areas of the Amazon rainforest have been destroyed.• The karate repertoire has a vast array of technical kicks.• Vast distances separate one isolated community from another.• The United States was too busy exploiting the possibilities of her own vast domestic market.• the vast expanse of the desert• a vast improvement• This is a simple rule, and for 40 years the vast majority of charitable organizations have strictly observed the prohibition.• The refugees arrived in vast numbers from villages all along the border.• Status, and effectively caste, was thus being bought at vast prices.• Vast quantities of food and drink were consumed at the wedding.• Technology is dedicated and therefore vast reductions in cost in the lifetime of a product are not to be expected.vast areas/expanses/tracts etc (of something)• All is slanted to maintaining the Establishment stranglehold on vast tracts of land for their own selfish playgrounds.• Climate accounts for the alternation of vast areas of grass and trees which inevitably involve different ways of life.• Fortunately for Hippisley, the body was never found, although vast areas of nearby Lambourn Woods were excavated by the townsfolk.• Layers of colour, white, reds and vast expanses of different tones of green.• That vast tracts can be bought and sold as casually as a loaf of bread is immoral.• The North, on the other hand, would have to stretch its supply lines over vast areas of hostile territory.• There were in fact many others, with vast tracts of empty space between them.• Typically, they hunt vast areas to find suitable deposits.Origin vast (1500-1600) Latin vastus “empty, desolate, very large” 