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

Noun

• command
• lookout
• outlook
• panorama
• perspective
• prospect
• view

Examples of vista in a Sentence

Noun

a gorgeous vista of the mountains from the front window

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With an incomparable vista, stunning cuisine and an inviting atmosphere, a meal at The Restaurant at Auberge du Soliel will exceed your expectations. —Katie Sweeney, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

The 369-room resort is a Baroque architectural fantasy, topped by domes and edged by ornate private balconies that provide accommodations with vistas of the island and the azure sea. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2024

Whether in the daylight or twilight hours, a great vista of the Midtown icons can be seen from the many grassy expanses or the cantilevered observation deck designed by New York architecture firm Weiss/Manfredi. —Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024

From the lush mountain vistas of the Berkshires to the sandy dunes of Cape Cod and so many historic small towns, Massachusetts is a vacationer's dream. —Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2024

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

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