vista

¹ American  

[vis-tuh] / ˈvɪs tə /

noun

1. a view or prospect, especially one seen through a long, narrow avenue or passage, as between rows of trees or houses.

2. such an avenue or passage, especially when formally planned.

3. a far-reaching mental view.

   vistas of the future.

   Synonyms:

   vision, outlook, prospect

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Vista ² American  

[vis-tuh] / ˈvɪs tə /

noun

1. a town in SW California.

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VISTA ³ American  

[vis-tuh] / ˈvɪs tə /

noun

1. a national program in the U.S., sponsored by ACTION, for sending volunteers into poor areas to teach various job skills.

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vista ¹ British  

/ ˈvɪstə /

noun

1. a view, esp through a long narrow avenue of trees, buildings, etc, or such a passage or avenue itself; prospect

   a vista of arches

2. a comprehensive mental view of a distant time or a lengthy series of events

   the vista of the future

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VISTA ² British  

/ ˈvɪstə /

acronym

1. Volunteers in Service to America; an organization of volunteers established by the Federal government to assist the poor

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Usage

What does vista mean? A vista is a wide view of a scene, especially a sweeping outdoor scene such as a mountain valley or beach.Traditionally, vista referred to a view seen through a long, narrow passage, such as between two rows of trees or buildings, but this meaning is now less commonly used.Example: The description for this hotel room claims that we’ll have a vista of the mountain at sunrise from our balcony.

Related Words

See view.

Other Word Forms

• vistaed adjective
• vistaless adjective

Etymology

Origin of vista¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Italian: “a view,” noun use of feminine of visto (past participle of vedere “to see,” from Latin vidēre )

Origin of VISTA³

V(olunteers) i(n) S(ervice) t(o) A(merica)

Example Sentences

The city largely shut down as residents and tourists ran for cover and plumes of smoke from fires darkened the Pacific vista.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Looking ahead is good, of course, but the vista investors must now contemplate is replete with a host of issues that are both unique to U.S. markets and concerning to a longer term outlook.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

The main living space, which features an enormous great room with windows spanning the entirety of the wall, offering a picture-perfect vista of the park.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 15, 2026

A jumble of rectangles snaps into a rigidly composed vista of a white gate set into an earthy wall.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

When we reach the foot of the bridge, Phil pauses, sweeping his hand over the vista as he talks about the vision of Taro Otsuka, Fabyan’s private gardener who designed this place.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed