ideally

American  

[ahy-dee-uh-lee] / aɪˈdi ə li /

adverb

1. in accordance with an ideal; perfectly.

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

3. in idea, thought, or imagination.

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Etymology

Origin of ideally

First recorded in 1590–1600; ideal + -ly

Explanation

Use the adverb ideally to mean "perfectly" or "preferably." Ideally, you would always be ideally positioned to get a clear view of the parade going by — and not stuck behind a tall man in a top hat. You can start a sentence off with this word to convey the idea of "in a perfect world." For example, you might say, "Ideally, I'd be able to sleep in until at least ten every morning." The other way to use it is as a synonym for "perfectly," as in "My cat and I are ideally suited for each other" or "The vanilla ice cream complemented my apple pie."

Example Sentences

Ideally, we wouldn't be relying on someone to get us a goal out of nothing, like Jude Bellingham did when he turned in Saka's corner against Panama.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026

Ideally, the U.S. would have “universal access” to retirement savings accounts, giving all workers the option of contributing automatically to a savings plan via payroll deductions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 27, 2026

Ideally, look for someone with experience in individual tax planning and elder-care issues.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 15, 2026

Ideally, the money goes to invest into grass roots development — but in many cases, there seems little to show for FIFA’s largesse.

From Salon • Jun. 14, 2026

"Right. Ideally, we want our text to show up on the rover screen, and whatever Watney types to be sent back to us. That requires a change to the rover's software."

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

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