What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Vast vs Avast - What's the difference?

vast | avast |

As a noun vast

is west (compass point).

As an interjection avast is

(nautical) hold fast!; desist!; stay!.

vast

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Very large or wide (literally or figuratively).
    • The Sahara desert is vast .
    There is a vast difference between them.
  • Very great in size, amount, degree, intensity, or especially extent.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April
    • , author=Anna Lena Phillips , title=Sneaky Silk Moths , volume=100, issue=2, page=172 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans—and made for good meals for birds and small mammals.}}
  • (obsolete) Waste; desert; desolate; lonely.
  • * William Shakespeare, the Life and Death of Richard the Third Act I, scene IV:
    • the empty, vast , and wandering air

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (poetic) A vast space.
  • * 1608': they have seemed to be together, though absent, shook hands, as over a '''vast , and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. — William Shakespeare, ''The Winter's Tale , I.i

    • Derived terms

    * vastly * vastness * ultravast

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    avast

    English

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (nautical) hold fast!; desist!; stay!.
  • :* {{quote-book, year=1914
    • , year_published=2009 , edition=HTML , editor= , author=Edgar Rice Burroughs , title=The Mucker , chapter= citation , genre= , publisher=The Gutenberg Project , isbn= , page= , passage="Avast there!" cried the captain, and as though to punctuate his remark he swung the heavy stick he usually carried full upon the back of Billy's head. }}
  • listen!; pay attention!.
    • Avast , ye landlubbers!

    Usage notes

    * The form "avast, ye!" (as in "Avast, Hoisting!" or "Avast, this noise" or "Avast ye landlubbers!!") is often seen, but this is nonstandard. * "Avast hauling!" is (or was, in 1950) still commonly used in U.S. Navy deck operations.