a vast man

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a vast man" is not commonly used in written English and may be considered incorrect depending on the intended meaning.
It could be used to describe a man who is large in size or has a significant presence, but it is more typical to use "a big man" or "a great man" for clarity. Example: "He was a vast man, both in stature and in the impact he had on those around him."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nearby, a vast man-made lagoon foams water – and what else?

The Guardian

Before me stretched a vast man-made lake, the size of two football fields, excavated perhaps 1,000 years ago.

Princeton University

A two-hour bus ride from Tacuarembó, this tiny, isolated town sits on the border of a vast, man-made lake.

The Guardian - Travel

Redford has himself navigated the Colorado river and keeps a boat on Lake Powell, a vast man-made reservoir – now at perilously low levels – at the eastern end of the Grand Canyon.

Independent

The setting was a real hotel under a railroad viaduct that crossed a vast man-made lake, and the shooting was complicated by the fact that the lake was about to be drained by civil engineers.

The New York Times

As one lawyer, Khaled al-Alansi, put it to me, "If you can't fight sheik Mansour, how can you possibly fight Al Qaeda?" Two thousand years ago, the area east of Sana held one of the earth's most prosperous kingdoms, a lush agricultural region of spices and fruits, fed by irrigation canals from a vast man-made dam.

The New York Times - Magazine

Inside the world's largest iron ore mine Jump to media player In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the Carajas mining complex is a series of vast man-made chasms, extracting iron ore around the clock.

BBC

With men brought together from across the Greek world in a vast exercise of man-on-man bonding, on one level the scene would be familiar to anyone who's seen a soccer match or baseball game, but on another level it would appear starkly different.

Huffington Post

Vast men's and women's locker rooms facilitate daytime rides, including a low-key lunch race.

Forbes

The reserve, about the size of New Jersey, accounts for nearly two-thirds of the Petén region, a vast, jungly no man's land that juts north into Mexico and borders Belize to the east.

The New York Times

A vast amount of man power and material has been diverted from Mass work for carrying out research in dis eases which are not easy to understand and difficult to cure so‐called principles of medicine.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you intend to convey a sense of importance or impact, consider using phrases that directly address those qualities, such as "a man of influence" or "a towering figure".

Common error

Don't assume "vast" is interchangeable with "large" when describing a person. While technically understandable, it lacks the naturalness and idiomatic use of other options.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a noun phrase with an adjectival modifier. However, its usage is questionable. While technically understandable, the adjective "vast" is not commonly applied to people in contemporary English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a vast man" is uncommon and generally considered an awkward phrasing in modern English. While understandable, it's not the typical way to describe a person's physical size or influence. Ludwig's analysis indicates a lack of consistent usage in authoritative sources, as confirmed by the Ludwig AI. Alternative phrases like ""a large man"" (for physical size) or ""a great man"" (for significance) are much more common and effective in conveying the intended meaning. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid using "a vast man" and opt for these clearer and more conventional alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large man

Focuses primarily on physical size; a more common and direct way to describe someone big.

a big man

Similar to "a large man", but can also imply importance or influence.

a great man

Emphasizes accomplishments, character, and overall positive impact, shifting away from physical description.

an imposing man

Highlights how the man affects others, suggesting he commands attention or respect.

a man of great stature

Focuses on height and bearing, suggesting dignity and presence.

a man of considerable influence

Highlights his power and impact on others.

a substantial man

Implies both physical size and importance or wealth.

a towering man

Emphasizes height and dominance.

a man of vast knowledge

Shifts the meaning to focus on intellect and learning, not physical characteristics.

a man with a commanding presence

Highlights the impact he has on the environment.

FAQs

What does "a vast man" mean?

While grammatically understandable, "a vast man" is not a common phrase. It could refer to a man of considerable size or significance, though clearer alternatives like "a large man" or "a great man" are preferred.

Is it correct to describe someone as "a vast man"?

It's not incorrect, but it is unusual. Native English speakers would more likely say "a large man" to describe physical size or "an influential man" to describe impact.

What can I say instead of "a vast man" to describe someone's size?

Consider using phrases like "a large man", "a big man", or even "an imposing man". These are more conventional and widely understood.

What's the difference between "a vast man" and "a great man"?

"A vast man" is an uncommon way to describe someone, implying size or perhaps scope of influence. "A great man", however, refers to someone of significant accomplishment, character, or historical importance.