vista

1 of 2

noun

vis·​ta ˈvi-stə 

1

: a distant view through or along an avenue or opening : prospect

2

: an extensive mental view (as over a stretch of time or a series of events)

VISTA

2 of 2

abbreviation

Volunteers in Service to America

Did you know?

Vista is generally used today for broad sweeping views of the kind you might see from a mountaintop. But the word originally meant an avenue-like view, narrowed by a line of trees on either side. And vista has also long been used (like view and outlook) to mean a mental scan of the future—as if you were riding down a long grand avenue and what you could see a mile or so ahead of you was where you'd be in the very near future.

Synonyms of vista

Noun

• view
• panorama

Examples of vista in a Sentence

Noun

a gorgeous vista of the mountains from the front window

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Lincoln Aviator is a luxury SUV due to its potent twin turbo V6 engine with intelligent AWD, and a cabin featuring premium leather heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic vista roof, and a Revel audio system. —Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026

In the first phase—that covers 6,000 of the ranch's 21,000 total acres—the New Mexico Land Conservancy will pay the church foundation nearly $1 million to preserve the vista and never develop the land. —John Burnett, NPR, 14 Mar. 2026

For decades, road-trippers zoomed right past Wimberley, Texas—with its scenic vistas, untamed terrain, lazy tubing rivers, blooming wildflower fields, and tiny but tight-knit community. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026

Arizona has some of the most playful mountain vistas. —Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian, sight, from visto, past participle of vedere to see, from Latin vidēre — more at wit

First Known Use

Noun

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for vista

• crista
• arista
• artiste
• batiste
• sandinista

Kids Definition

vista

noun

vis·​ta ˈvis-tə 

1

: a distant view through an opening or along an avenue : prospect

2

: a mental view over a long period of time

Geographical Definition

Vista

geographical name

Vis·​ta ˈvi-stə 

city in southwestern California north of San Diego population 93,834