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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.

But, they added, “It was honestly a smart idea on their part.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

“You talk to them and they would say, ‘I have no idea where everything is,’” he said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

These movies swung for the fences to prove that all is not yet lost — an idea that, in itself, can feel subversive.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

The idea is not to make teams play with 10 men, but to make it such a clear deterrent that players do not waste time on substitutions.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

“You have no idea how much it meant to see Harry,” I said when I was safe inside.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom




Vocabulary lists containing idea


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