ideal

[ ahy-dee-uhl, ahy-deel ]

/ aɪˈdi əl, aɪˈdil /

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See synonyms for: ideal / ideals on Thesaurus.com

noun

a conception of something in its perfection.

a standard of perfection or excellence.

a person or thing conceived as embodying such a conception or conforming to such a standard, and taken as a model for imitation: Thomas Jefferson was his ideal.

an ultimate object or aim of endeavor, especially one of high or noble character: He refuses to compromise any of his ideals.

something that exists only in the imagination: To achieve the ideal is almost hopeless.

Mathematics. a subring of a ring, any element of which when multiplied by any element of the ring results in an element of the subring.

adjective

conceived as constituting a standard of perfection or excellence: ideal beauty.

regarded as perfect of its kind: an ideal spot for a home.

existing only in the imagination; not real or actual: Nature is real; beauty is ideal.

advantageous; excellent; best: It would be ideal if she could accompany us as she knows the way.

based upon an ideal or ideals: the ideal theory of numbers.

Philosophy.

pertaining to a possible state of affairs considered as highly desirable.
pertaining to or of the nature of idealism.

OTHER WORDS FOR ideal

1, 2 epitome.

4 intention, objective.

7 perfect, consummate, complete.

9 illusory, imaginary, fanciful, fantastic.

See synonyms for ideal on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of ideal

From the Late Latin word ideālis, dating back to 1605–15. See idea, -al¹

synonym study for ideal

1, 2. Ideal, example, model refer to something considered as a standard to strive toward or something considered worthy of imitation. An ideal is a concept or standard of perfection, existing merely as an image in the mind, or based upon a person or upon conduct: We admire the high ideals of a religious person. Sir Philip Sidney was considered the ideal in gentlemanly conduct. An example is a person or the conduct or achievements of a person regarded as worthy of being followed or imitated in a general way; or sometimes, as properly to be avoided: an example of courage; a bad example to one's children. A model is primarily a physical shape to be closely copied, but is also a pattern for exact imitation in conduct or character: They took their leader as a model.

OTHER WORDS FROM ideal

i·de·al·ness, nounqua·si-i·de·al, adjectivequa·si-i·de·al·ly, adverbsub·i·de·al, adjective, noun

su·per·i·de·al, adjective, nounsu·per·i·de·al·ly, adverbun·i·de·al, adjective

Words nearby ideal

IDDM, IDE, idea, idea hamster, ideaistic, ideal, ideal crystal, ideal element, ideal gas, ideal gas law, idealism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ideal in a sentence

You want it to cover your shoulders and fall a bit below your toes for ideal weight distribution.
Best weighted blanket: Sleep like a baby with our comfy bedding picks|PopSci Commerce Team|February 12, 2021|Popular-Science
The ideal chair should be about 16 to 21 inches above the ground, and your arms should rest comfortably while your feet remain flat.
Best desk chair for any home office|PopSci Commerce Team|February 11, 2021|Popular-Science
On one hand, the year-long shutdown, with less rushing around, has provided ideal circumstances for serious chats.
Watching edgier TV with your kids during the pandemic? You’re not alone.|Bonnie Miller Rubin|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Makridis and Wu’s research underscores how the ongoing erosion of social trust in the United States created an ideal environment for a pandemic to flourish.
Researchers identify social factors inoculating some communities against coronavirus|Christopher Ingraham|February 11, 2021|Washington Post

The climate in Death Valley is ideal during the winter months.
4 Awesome Winter Road Trips to National Parks|Megan Michelson|February 11, 2021|Outside Online
White and Crandall agree that low-intensity workouts are ideal.
5 Hangover Cures to Save You After a Few Too Many|DailyBurn|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The land at Easter Elchies was the ideal place for Reid to set up his business.
Ester Elchies, The Estate Built By Whiskey||December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I reached out with heartfelt pleas, and spoke to people that I felt were ideal—and I was right in most cases.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave Chappelle|Marlow Stern|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However the American sexual ideal is intimately related to a certain idea of masculinity.
Living Black & Gay in the ’50s|Alain Mabanckou|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The problem comes at this point because the liquid loses its potency within an hour even in ideal conditions.
Powdered Measles Vaccine Could Be Huge for Developing World|Kent Sepkowitz|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I believe that these are ideal characters constructed from still more ancient legends and traditions.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
That title of Castile might become the cherished ideal in the Philippines if it were valued as I desire.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
It makes one believe that fundamentally the country must be sound—that unswerving fidelity to an ideal.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
The ideal is not a thing to be clutched at, or taken by force, but all of the conditions—every tittle—must be fulfilled.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
Awe stole upon him; he felt himself included in the great ideal of this older day.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood

British Dictionary definitions for ideal

ideal

/ (aɪˈdɪəl) /

noun

a conception of something that is perfect, esp that which one seeks to attain

a person or thing considered to represent perfectionhe's her ideal

something existing only as an idea

a pattern or model, esp of ethical behaviour

adjective

conforming to an ideal

of, involving, or existing in the form of an idea

philosophy

of or relating to a highly desirable and possible state of affairs
of or relating to idealism

Derived forms of ideal

ideality (ˌaɪdɪˈælɪtɪ), nounideally, adverbidealness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ideal

OTHER WORDS FOR ideal

Origin of ideal

synonym study for ideal

OTHER WORDS FROM ideal

Words nearby ideal

Words related to ideal

How to use ideal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ideal

Derived forms of ideal