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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.

Arasheben came up with that idea while shopping for a Buzz Lightyear toy for his nephew.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

Last week also produced a bearish shooting star on the weekly chart, at all-time highs, reinforcing the idea that upside momentum may be stalling.

From Barron's • 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 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

Thus, the idea that this unwelcome stranger would bring mayhem to their delicate balance was detestable.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman




Vocabulary lists containing idea


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