Synonyms

ideate

American

[ahy-dee-eyt, ahy-dee-eyt, ahy-dee-eyt, ahy-dee-it] / ˈaɪ diˌeɪt, aɪˈdi eɪt, ˈaɪ diˌeɪt, aɪˈdi ɪt /

verb (used with object)

ideated, ideating

to form an idea, thought, or image of.

verb (used without object)

ideated, ideating

to form ideas; think.

noun

ideatum.

ideate British

/ ˈaɪdɪˌeɪt /

verb

(tr) to form or have an idea of; to imagine or conceive

"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

Other Word Forms

ideation noun
ideative adjective
unideated adjective
unideating adjective

Etymology

Origin of ideate

First recorded in 1600–10; ide(a) + -ate ¹

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.

Maher said he was sculpting to ideate on this new version of the character when he accidentally punched a hole in the figure’s torso.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2025

In a similar vein, the "Star Wars" TV extensions suffer from an unwillingness to abandon well-traveled canon and ideate fresh approaches.

From Salon • Jul. 19, 2024

Speaking of inspiration, one of the hallmarks of a confident baker is the ability to ideate and then actually bake a new recipe.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2023

I write on my computer, but I ideate in the sketchbook.

From The Verge • Sep. 7, 2018

He established the idea as the truth of the thing, but he failed to find expression for the relation between idea and ideate.

From Monophysitism Past and Present A Study in Christology by Luce, A. A. (Arthur Aston)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023