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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.

She also endorsed manufacturing on the moon and the idea of settling Mars.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

"You first read a basic book to get an idea of the knowledge," says Bayer, "and then move to the really complicated book."

From Science Daily • Jun. 11, 2026

The idea that McGinn's career had hit its ceiling could not have been further off the mark, but he was lucky to have one at all two years later.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Really, the heart of the show is the idea of auditioning.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

“They had no idea what they were doing.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith




Vocabulary lists containing idea


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