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

The pair will set soon after the sun, so find a viewpoint with open vistas to the west horizon. —Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2025

And the idea that the center hub has a vista that can see everywhere from that center area. —Mark Peikert, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025

Sliding doors open to a covered patio with an outdoor kitchen and alfresco dining space fronted by colorful landscape vistas. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2025

On clear days, the sweeping vistas can extend for nearly 50 miles. —Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 17 Jan. 2025

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