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

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

How to use ideal in a sentence

It is not ideal that the fate of the presidency would come down to the good faith of Republican senators, but it nonetheless may.
Just because an attempt to steal an election is ludicrous and ham-handed doesn’t mean it can’t work|Philip Bump|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
It’s a glowing tribute to Lewis’s resolve and hopeful ideals.
The most 2020 books of 2020|Angela Haupt|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
While she is interested in a relationship, dating during a pandemic is not ideal.
Date Lab: It didn’t ‘take much to get us to start talking’|Prachi Gupta|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
In ideal circumstances, this air filtration system should work very well.
How risky is air travel in the pandemic? Here’s what the science says.|Brian Resnick|November 12, 2020|Vox

In some ideal future, people could—perhaps—climb into a hyperloop pod and travel quickly over a long distance.
The first hyperloop passengers just took a short but important ride|Rob Verger|November 11, 2020|Popular-Science
I do not think such pictures as abound in Rome could have been painted where the women were common-place and unideal.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Their obstreperous loyalty might seem inconsistent with this unideal character, but it is only seeming.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
All around were unideal surroundings, and the people came and went.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Volume 11 (of 14)|Elbert Hubbard
But my own observation assures me that, on the whole, these unideal motives played a very small part.
God and Mr. Wells|William Archer
Hes a trifle unideal, mother; a bit different, you must admit, Nancy laughed.
Ainslee's, Vol. 15, No. 6, July 1905|Various

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 related to ideal

How to use ideal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ideal

Derived forms of ideal