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Definitions

idea

[ahy-dee-uh, ahy-deeuh] / aɪˈdi ə, aɪˈdiə /


Usage

What are other ways to say idea? The noun idea, although it may refer to thoughts of any degree of seriousness or triviality, is commonly used for mental concepts considered more important or elaborate: We pondered the idea of the fourth dimension. The idea of his arrival frightened me. Thought, which reflects its primary emphasis on the mental process, may denote any concept except the more weighty and elaborate ones: I welcomed his thoughts on the subject. A thought came to him. Conception suggests a thought that seems complete, individual, recent, or somewhat intricate: The architect's conception delighted them. Notion suggests a fleeting, vague, or imperfect thought: a bare notion of how to proceed.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The idea is to leverage empty storefronts to build buzz and entice more shoppers to city sidewalks.

From Los Angeles Times

In recent months, this idea has taken visual form across fashion runways, with brands from Chanel to Acne Studios showcasing childlike sketches, often referred to as ‘naive design’.

From Los Angeles Times

But permanent host is not a bad idea.

From Los Angeles Times

TikTok said it rejected the idea that political content is prioritised over the safety of young people and said the claim "fundamentally misrepresents the way their moderation systems operate".

From BBC

These galleries showed a wide spectrum of car concepts, including highly effective designs, unusual ideas, and even some intentionally flawed options.

From Science Daily