Word
vastness
Phoneticsvast·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈvæstnəs/
UK/vˈɑːstnəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. an extremely large size or space that feels endless. You use it for oceans, deserts, or the night sky.
n. immense extent in size, area, or scope, often so great as to overwhelm perception.
Examples
“They stare at the vastness of the ocean.”
“Standing in the desert, she feels small against the vastness of sand in every direction.”
“From the mountain summit, the vastness of the forested valleys below made the distant towns look like scattered grains of salt.”
Examples
simple
“They stare at the vastness of the ocean.”
contextual
“Standing in the desert, she feels small against the vastness of sand in every direction.”
complex
“From the mountain summit, the vastness of the forested valleys below made the distant towns look like scattered grains of salt.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “vastness” in context.
Verb
01. contemplate vastness
“Standing on the cliff, he paused to contemplate the vastness of the sea.”
verb + noun
02. gaze into vastness
“She stood on deck to gaze into the vastness of the open ocean.”
verb + prep + noun
03. grasp vastness
“Photographs cannot help you grasp the vastness of the Grand Canyon.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. empty vastness
“The explorers trekked for days across the empty vastness of the tundra.”
adj + noun
05. endless vastness
“Under the endless vastness of the night sky, she felt both small and calm.”
adj + noun
06. immense vastness
“From the plane, travellers gazed down at the immense vastness of the Sahara.”
adj + noun
07. sheer vastness
“They were humbled by the sheer vastness of the Pacific stretching to the horizon.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. sense of vastness
“The desert at dawn gives you a powerful sense of vastness and silence.”
noun + prep + noun
09. grasp the vastness of space
“It is hard to grasp the vastness of space from a textbook.”
10. lost in the vastness
“The tiny boat was soon lost in the vastness of the sea.”
11. overwhelmed by the vastness
“We stood on the ridge, overwhelmed by the vastness around us.”
12. sheer vastness of the desert
“The sheer vastness of the desert makes navigation extremely difficult.”
Usage
Commonly followed by 'of' to specify what is vast, as in 'the vastness of the sky'.
Real-World Examples
“As Jose Cleiton and Brandao Amilton ride their horses into the vastness of the Pantanal grassy wetlands of Brazil, a wall of smoke towers from the horizon far into the sky above.” “While her Southern upbringing influenced her writings throughout her life, it was the expansive Nebraska prairies — remarkable in their vastness, their connection to the heavens, and the almost rhythmic energy beneath — that inspired her most notable pieces, the bluestem that became her creative catalyst.” “Visual vastness is one of the simplest methods to invoke a sense of smallness.” Etymology
From vast + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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