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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.

The idea is that the corporates will be attracted in part by the spectacle and noise of the ultras behind the goals in the cheap seats.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

One worthy idea is expanding access and contribution limits for health-savings accounts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

The concept of “underownership” generally refers to the idea that funds aren’t as invested in a particular stock on a relative basis.

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

“What do you think, Lexie? It’s a good idea, isn’t it?”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam




Vocabulary lists containing idea


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