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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.

“Charlie was just a guy who had good ideas, and I was the business guy,” Hill said.

From Los Angeles Times

The idea for a national performing arts centre began in the 1950s and after Kennedy, the 35th president, was assassinated in 1963, Congress passed a law to name it in his honour.

From BBC

Isn’t the idea to get as far away as possible from your quotidian existence?

From The Wall Street Journal

Battlefield bravery is rare in the war of ideas, where there is time to worry about the consequences of our actions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Elliott is talking with banks about the idea of an initial public offering but hasn’t chosen an underwriting syndicate, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal