vast thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vast thing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something as being incredibly large in size or scope. For example, "The night sky was a vast thing, dotted with stars beyond counting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was a vast thing, with masses of people; then it ended up in a seedy hotel room, with hardly anybody there.

The Guardian

This sensation of feeling shaped by this vast thing that stretches across different mediums and that is so massive and ambiguous that you can draw your own meaning from it, is not unique to me in the least.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He was only an upstart candidate, but he was already talking about leaving a legacy, about accomplishing vast things.

The New York Times

The Dymaxion topic, Mr. Murphy said in a recent phone interview, "is just one of the most vast things".

The New York Times - Arts

But perhaps, after a century in which companies were vast things, such a satire of corporate individualism is due for a revival or two.

The Economist

It's like the vastest thing there is, and we are sending people back to the one minuscule spot we've already been!

Huffington Post

"It's a pretty strong influence," Mr. Shepard said, "this vast empty thing out there, the heat and all the rest of it, on temperament and things like longing -- as in longing to get the hell out of there".

The New York Times

"It's a way of placing some marker on this vast unknowable thing".

The New York Times

"Science looks like a vast impersonal thing, but we live in the middle of it and it changes us," said Ben Lillie, a physicist who is a founder of the series.

The New York Times - Science

Gough's first memory of Graves is of "this vast, horrifying thing leaning over my pram with a very nice great-aunt attached to it", but he was transfixed by the beauty and passion he found at the poet's home in Deià, Majorca, which he first visited as a 10 year old, seven years before the fateful summer of 1960.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They were vast, wobbly things with bacon, onions, cheese, potatoes and tomatoes, said Maureen Ragaglia, his mother.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vast thing" to evoke a sense of awe or overwhelm when describing something of significant size, scope, or impact.

Common error

Avoid using "vast thing" as a generic descriptor for something merely large. Reserve it for situations where the scale is truly exceptional or conceptually significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vast thing" functions as a noun phrase where "vast" modifies the noun "thing". Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability, positioning it to describe something of considerable magnitude. It serves primarily to characterize an entity's size or scope.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vast thing" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something exceptionally large or extensive. Though Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its occurrence is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. When writing, consider the impact you want to create; "vast thing" is best suited when you want to evoke a sense of awe or emphasize the sheer scale of something. If you are describing something merely large, more common alternatives like "immense object" or "something vast" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immense object

Emphasizes the physical size of the thing.

enormous entity

Highlights the scale and nature of something, potentially abstract.

huge phenomenon

Focuses on the scale and impact of an event or occurrence.

extensive matter

Implies a large quantity or amount of something.

grand concept

Shifts the focus to an idea that is broad and encompassing.

widespread event

Describes an occurrence that affects a large area or group.

considerable item

Underlines the importance or significance of an object.

broad subject

Indicates a wide-ranging topic or field of study.

sizeable element

Focuses on the notable proportions of a component.

large undertaking

Refers to a project or task of substantial scale.

FAQs

How can I use "vast thing" in a sentence?

You can use "vast thing" to describe something of immense size or scope. For example, "The universe is a "vast thing", filled with countless galaxies."

What is a good alternative to "vast thing"?

Alternatives to "vast thing" include "immense object", "enormous entity", or "huge phenomenon", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "vast thing" or "something vast"?

Both "vast thing" and "something vast" are grammatically correct, but their usage may vary depending on the sentence structure. "Something vast" is generally more common and versatile.

What does it mean when something is described as a "vast thing"?

Describing something as a "vast thing" implies that it is extremely large, extensive, or significant in scale, scope, or impact.