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

So, get ready for mountain vistas and exhausting cycling days to take your breath away and questions about your life choices to swirl around in your head! — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026

Enjoy the vistas outside on the private terrace or by the striking pool, located down a series of stone steps and ringed by umbrellas and sun loungers. — Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026

The altitude offers incredible vistas of the wetlands that border the Tanana River, one of the largest tributaries of the mighty Yukon. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Following a five-year closure that cut the only road through Denali short, the park has just reopened the entire route, giving visitors a window into even more scenic vistas and wildlife. — Rebecca Deurlein, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 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