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

Dolce’s cool, reductive architectural sense, with its airy vistas and great open spaces inside and out (perfect for their energetic Labradors, Lola and her son, Dali), is cluttered with the eclectic bounty that Gabbana has assembled over the years. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2026

Little wonder that the pioneers of the medium ditched the cold, clammy, and crowded precincts of New York and New Jersey to light out for the picture-perfect vista. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

Among townspeople interviewed by The Bee in August, suspicions over the poisonings centered on the idea that a homeowner, and probably a wealthy one, was trying to improve their vista at the expense of both the trees and beach goers. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026

The Catskill Mountain Railroad’s seasonal adventure combines autumn color with historic tracks, open-space vistas, and opportunities to spot local wildlife. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 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