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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.

See Examples For:

She’s become convinced the old house they are renovating harbors a ghost, an idea that Sam, a physicist, scorns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

One possible explanation is the dairy matrix hypothesis, an idea that emphasizes how the physical structure of food influences the way the body processes its nutrients.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026

“Could there be some alignment on this idea of power hour?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

"We knew she was ill, but we had no idea that it'd be her last vocal," says Bono.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

He has no idea that when we swim together, I ease up on the clock.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

And virtually no one has the patience or attention span to read an entire article anymore, let alone engage with its ideas.

From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026

Its scientific approach attracts advisers and individuals who believe in academic ideas about factors such as value that drive long-run investing success.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

"Your ideas and your creativity are a lot more valued because you actually get to implement those firsthand, and the responsibility you take on is a lot greater because of that," says London-based Clinton, 23.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Others say it will take new ideas and big swings that can be challenging in a city where the mayor has only limited powers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

But consider: If even in our own uncomfortably modern times, there are ideas and feelings that are perfectly expressed in no other way but Latin—“tempus fugit,” for example, or “alma mater,” or “Et tu, Brute?”

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood


Vocabulary lists containing idea

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