vastly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "vastly" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adverb that is used to mean "to a great degree or extent". For example, you could say "The new app has vastly improved customer service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And he heads a business empire that includes vastly more than just his three television channels.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mackay is the manager currently getting all the time and patience, yet with just two wins from 17 games his success percentage is vastly lower.

The Guardian - Sport

This hasn't been a solid show since its first season, and yet somehow it's nominated for best drama series again, alongside the vastly superior Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, The Affair and House of Cards.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

At the same time, the cost of renting and the overall cost of living has vastly outstripped the annual rise in student loan allowance.

The Guardian

Our enthusiasm to tell the truth about David Beckham, that he was vastly overrated and much better deployed as the team mascot than as a walking-pace midfielder prone to yellow and red cards, was right.

The Guardian - Opinion

Perhaps they know they are on shaky ground, blamed by many for vastly underestimating the consequences of allowing Poland and other new EU countries unfettered access to the employment market after they joined the union in 2004.

The Guardian

I point out that the numbers attending university since she was a student have vastly increased – which has, inevitably or not, led to the mass-marketisation of higher education.

The Guardian - Books

But the first vastly extended surveillance by public bodies, including local councils, of personal communications and the internet.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We would have been in the absurd position of the Department of Health making it much easier to make and sell tobacco cigarettes than e-cigarettes, which are vastly less harmful.

The Guardian

Come dress rehearsal, dead librettists are vastly preferred to living ones who have just spotted a line they would like to change.

The Guardian

The "proper" single version of this – performed by Demi Lovato – is regarded as vastly inferior by children as young as two.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vastly" to emphasize a significant difference or degree, especially when comparing two things or highlighting a change.

Common error

While "vastly" is grammatically correct, overuse in informal writing can make your tone sound stilted. Consider using more casual alternatives like "much" or "way" when writing informally.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "vastly" primarily functions as an intensifier, modifying adjectives or adverbs to emphasize a significant degree or extent. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this usage aligns with standard grammar rules and real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vastly" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverb to emphasize a significant degree or difference. Ludwig AI confirms that the word is correct and usable. Its primary function is to intensify adjectives or adverbs, highlighting substantial contrasts particularly in news and media contexts. While its usage is generally neutral, it's more suited to formal writing. When aiming for a more casual tone, consider alternatives like "much" or "way". The frequency of "vastly" in reputable sources like The Guardian and The Economist underscores its widespread acceptance and effectiveness in conveying considerable extent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Significantly more

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the difference.

Substantially greater

Highlights the magnitude of the difference.

Considerably larger

Focuses on the notable size or scale.

Much higher

Directly indicates a higher level or amount.

Far greater

Emphasizes the extent of the difference.

Extremely larger

Indicates the magnitude of something.

Immensely bigger

Highlights the size of something.

Notably increased

Focuses on the evident increase.

Markedly bigger

Emphasizes the noticeable change in size.

Appreciably more

Indicates a difference that is easily recognized or valued.

FAQs

How to use "vastly" in a sentence?

The adverb "vastly" is used to emphasize a great difference or degree. For example, "The new model is "vastly superior" to the old one."

What can I say instead of "vastly"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly", "substantially", or "considerably" to express a large degree or extent.

Which is correct, "vastly improved" or "vastly improving"?

"Vastly improved" is typically used to describe something that has already undergone significant improvement. "Vastly improving" suggests an ongoing process of substantial improvement.

What's the difference between "vastly" and "largely"?

"Vastly" emphasizes a great degree or extent, while "largely" means mainly or mostly. For example, "The project was "vastly successful"" indicates a high degree of success, whereas "The project was "largely successful"" indicates it was mostly successful, but may have had some shortcomings.