What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wide
Example
The river was wide and difficult to cross. [wide: adjective]
Example
There is a wide selection of books in the library. [wide: adjective]
Example
The living room is wide enough to accommodate a large sofa. [wide: adverb]
vast
Example
The Sahara desert is a vast expanse of sand. [vast: adjective]
Example
There is a vast difference between the two products. [vast: adjective]
Example
The book covers a vast array of topics related to history. [vast: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Wide is more common than vast in everyday language. Wide is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while vast is less common and tends to be used in more formal or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wide and vast?
Vast is generally considered more formal than wide. While wide can be used in both formal and informal contexts, vast is typically reserved for more formal or academic writing.
