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Synonyms

main idea

American  
[meyn ahy-dee-uh] / ˈmeɪn aɪˈdi ə /

noun

  • main ideas
    plural
  1. the most important or central thought of a paragraph or larger section of text, which tells the reader what the text is about.

    Find the main idea in each paragraph.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of main idea

First recorded in 1855–65

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.

See Examples For:

I produced this 20-minute film to help him fulfill that dream, but the main idea was to share tai chi with technology employees who are working 16 hours a day.

From The Wall Street Journal May 4, 2026

That’s the main idea behind the “Norimaki Synthesizer” – the new taste display.

From NewsForKids.net May 16, 2024

Companies who routinely violate the law could face fines, Haney said, but the main idea is to let employees know what to expect from their work.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 10, 2024

“Kasselakis is a prime example of this trend, the main idea being that the adoption of sheer imagery — not just gay, but also young and energetic — will do the trick,” Mr. Seferiades added.

From New York Times Nov. 10, 2023

But I agree with the main idea behind the nostalgia: literate people should know how to think about grammar.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

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