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)
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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.
Examples of vista in a Sentence
Noun
a gorgeous vista of the mountains from the front window
Recent Examples on the Web
Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2025
No leaves on the trees, few birds in the sky; the spacious vistas interdicted in all directions by armed men in black uniforms—police at the perimeter barricades, police on motorcycles, police drifting overhead in helicopters.
—Henry Freedland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
All these activities are enhanced by the world-class, award-winning amenities at Red Ledges, beginning with the scenic, 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, which showcases winding canyons, dramatic red rock cliffs, and stunning mountain vistas.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
This is leading to some player malaise, despite the improvements, a fresh coat of science-fiction paint, and vibrant vistas.
—PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2025
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Noun
Ride the scenic Leadville Railroad through San Isabel National Forest with sweeping alpine vistas.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2025
No leaves on the trees, few birds in the sky; the spacious vistas interdicted in all directions by armed men in black uniforms—police at the perimeter barricades, police on motorcycles, police drifting overhead in helicopters.
—Henry Freedland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
All these activities are enhanced by the world-class, award-winning amenities at Red Ledges, beginning with the scenic, 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, which showcases winding canyons, dramatic red rock cliffs, and stunning mountain vistas.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
This is leading to some player malaise, despite the improvements, a fresh coat of science-fiction paint, and vibrant vistas.
—PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vista
Cite this Entry
“Vista.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vista. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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Geographical Definition
Vista
geographical name
Vis·ta
ˈvi-stə 
city in southwestern California north of San Diego population 93,834
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