ideally

[ahy-dee-uh-lee]

adverb

1. in accordance with an ideal; perfectly.

2. in an ideal world; in principle; theoretically.

3. in idea, thought, or imagination.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ideally¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; ideal + -ly

Example Sentences

I like anything effervescent and not too sweet, ideally ladled from a punch bowl because punch bowls inherently make adults feel like children in the best possible way.

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"Patients need to wake up clear-headed, alert and oriented, and ideally pain-free. With better pain management, the stress response is curtailed."

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New stores are opening in affluent areas, ideally with drive-throughs so donors can pull up and pop their trunks to drop off items.

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Ultimately, you need to know what you want out of the conversation — ideally, a shared goal.

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These referrals are the highest priority for waiting lists, and patients should ideally be seen by a specialist within two weeks.

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Related Words

• appealingly www.thesaurus.com
• attractively www.thesaurus.com
• charmingly www.thesaurus.com
• delightfully www.thesaurus.com
• elegantly www.thesaurus.com
• exquisitely 
• gorgeously www.thesaurus.com
• gracefully 
• handsomely 
• magnificently www.thesaurus.com
• seductively www.thesaurus.com
• splendidly www.thesaurus.com
• sublimely www.thesaurus.com
• superbly 
• tastefully www.thesaurus.com
• wonderfully