Ideas — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun phrase /ī-ˈdē-ə/

Meaning & Definition of Ideas

Ideas (noun)

  1. a formulated thought or opinion
  2. whatever is known or supposed about something
  3. the central meaning or chief end of a particular action or situation

Ideas (phrase)

  1. to cause someone to think about doing something that probably should not be done
  2. to disagree
  3. to cause someone to have ideas or suspicions that he or she would not have had otherwise

Ideas (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something imagined or pictured in the mind

    "my idea of the perfect vacation spot is an uncrowded, unspoiled beach"

    similar: abstractions, cogitations, conceptions, concepts, images, impressions, intellections, mind's eyes, notions, pictures, thoughts
    related: apprehensions, premonitions, presentiments, preconceptions, prejudices, prepossessions, chimeras, delusions, hallucinations, illusions, phantasms, caprices, conceits, fancies, freaks, kinks, vagaries, whims, cognitions, observations, perceptions, reflections, assumptions, beliefs, conclusions, convictions, conjectures, guesses, hunches, hypotheses, speculations, suppositions, surmises, theories, brainchildren, brainstorms, brain waves, inspirations
    near: actualities, facts, realities

  2. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "Helen Keller remains my idea of a person with indomitable spirit"

    similar: beau ideals, classics, eidolons, exemplars, ideals, models, nonesuches, nonpareils, paragons, patron saints
    related: role models, embodiments, epitomes, incarnations, manifestations, personifications, phantoms, pinks, archetypes, examples, mirrors, paradigms, patterns, guidelines, principles, rules, gauges, standards, touchstones, essences, quintessences, acmes, apexes, apotheoses, culminations, peaks, pinnacles, summits, zeniths

  3. something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

    "the idea is to get the information without seeming to be nosy"

    similar: aims, ambitions, aspirations, bournes, designs, dreams, ends, goals, ideals, intentions, intents, marks, meanings, objectives, objects, plans, points, pretensions, purposes, targets, things
    related: grails, holy grails, plots, projects, schemes, desires, hopes, minds, wishes, nirvanas, destinations, termini
    near: means, methods, ways

Related Entry: Idea (noun)

Idea is a different word from Ideas. The synonyms below are for idea, not for ideas.

  1. something imagined or pictured in the mind

    "my idea of the perfect vacation spot is an uncrowded, unspoiled beach"

    similar: abstraction, cogitation, concept, conception, image, impression, intellection, mind's eye, notion, picture, thought
    related: apprehension, premonition, presentiment, preconception, prejudice, prepossession, chimera, delusion, hallucination, illusion, phantasm, caprice, conceit, fancy, freak, kink, vagary, whim, cognition, observation, perception, reflection, assumption, belief, conclusion, conviction, conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, supposition, surmise, theory, brainchild, brainstorm, brain wave, inspiration
    near: actuality, fact, reality

  2. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "Helen Keller remains my idea of a person with indomitable spirit"

    similar: beau ideal, classic, eidolon, exemplar, ideal, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon, patron saint
    related: role model, embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink, archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern, guideline, principle, rule, gauge, standard, touchstone, essence, quintessence, acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

  3. something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

    "the idea is to get the information without seeming to be nosy"

    similar: aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne, design, dream, end, goal, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing, name of the game
    related: grail, holy grail, plot, project, scheme, desire, hope, mind, wish, nirvana, destination, terminus
    near: means, method, way

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ideas

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ideas:

abstractions, cogitations, conceptions, concepts, images, impressions, intellections, mind's eyes, notions, pictures, thoughts, beau ideals, classics, eidolons, exemplars, ideals, models, nonesuches, nonpareils, paragons, patron saints, aims, ambitions, aspirations, bournes, designs, dreams, ends, goals, intentions, intents, marks, meanings, objectives, objects, plans, points, pretensions, purposes, targets

Related Words for Ideas

apprehensions, premonitions, presentiments, preconceptions, prejudices, prepossessions, chimeras, delusions, hallucinations, illusions, phantasms, caprices, conceits, fancies, freaks, kinks, vagaries, whims, cognitions, observations, perceptions, reflections, assumptions, beliefs, conclusions, convictions, conjectures, guesses, hunches, hypotheses

Near Antonyms of Ideas

actualities, facts, realities, means, methods, ways

Word Forms of Ideas

Derived words: idealess (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Ideas

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek, from idein to see wit

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Ideas

give someone ideas, have other ideas, put ideas in/into someone's head

Frequently Asked Questions about Ideas

What does "Ideas" mean?

"Ideas" means a formulated thought or opinion. As an a noun and a phrase, it is defined as: a formulated thought or opinion. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Ideas"?

Other words for "Ideas" include abstractions, cogitations, conceptions, concepts, images, impressions, intellections and mind's eyes. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ideas" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ideas"?

There are 120 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ideas". Common alternatives include abstractions, cogitations, conceptions, concepts, images, impressions, intellections, mind's eyes, notions and pictures.

How do you use "Ideas" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ideas" in a sentence: "my idea of the perfect vacation spot is an uncrowded, unspoiled beach"; "Helen Keller remains my idea of a person with indomitable spirit"; "the idea is to get the information without seeming to be nosy".

Is "Ideas" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Ideas" can be used as a noun and a phrase, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Ideas"?

"Ideas" is pronounced /ī-ˈdē-ə/.

What is the origin of the word "Ideas"?

"Ideas" comes from Middle English, from Latin, from Greek, from idein to see wit. First known use: 14th century.

What is another word for "Ideas" meaning "something imagined or pictured in the mind"?

When "Ideas" (noun) means something imagined or pictured in the mind, synonyms include abstractions, cogitations, conceptions, concepts, images and impressions.