ideally

adverb

ide·​al·​ly ī-ˈdē-ə-lē 

-ˈdē(-ə)l-lē

1

a

: conformably to or in respect to an ideal : perfectly

He would have liked to live in a world of ideally united couples, himself ideally united …

—P. G. Wodehouse

b

: for best results

Ideally, the counselor should vary his techniques for each applicant …

—T. M. Martinez

c

: in accordance with an ideal or typical standard : classically

2

: in relation to an exemplar

3

: in idea or imagination : mentally

… was afraid of the gallows. She was terrified of them ideally. Having never set eyes on that last argument of men's justice …

—Joseph Conrad

Synonyms of ideally

• perfectly
• immaculately

Examples of ideally in a Sentence

His skills made him ideally suited for the job.

They were ideally suited to one another.

The ski slope was situated ideally.

Recent Examples on the Web

Breakfast is currently available both in the Riverside Lounge or in-room—the latter definitely recommended, ideally on the balcony table for a particularly serene start to the day. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026

Experts recommend limiting salt to no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day, and ideally less than 1,500 mg per day. — Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 3 Nov. 2026

As the initiative develops, these criteria could provide a foundation for future discussions about common benchmarks or guidelines, ideally involving stakeholders from across the industry. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026

And, ideally, growth in craft and reputation advances our careers. — Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for ideally

• lapilli
• swahili
• freely
• keeley
• mealy
• seely
• steely
• vilely
• intraperitoneally
• kiswahili
• microvilli

Kids Definition

ideally

adverb

ide·​al·​ly ī-ˈdē-ə-lē 

-ˈdē(-ə)l-lē

1

: in agreement with an ideal : perfectly

ideally suited to the job

2

: for best results

ideally, each student should arrive early