concept

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noun

con·cept ˈkän-ˌsept

Synonyms of concept next

: something conceived in the mind : thought, notion

: an abstract or generic idea generalized from particular instances

the basic concepts of psychology

the concept of gravity

concept

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adjective

: organized around a main idea or theme

a concept album

: created to illustrate a concept

a concept car

Choose the Right Synonym for concept

idea, concept, conception, thought, notion, impression mean what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan).

idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.

innovative ideas

my idea of paradise

concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.

a society with no concept of private property

conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.

our changing conception of what constitutes art

thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

Example Sentences

Noun She is familiar with basic concepts of psychology. a concept borrowed from computer programming

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Monochrome dream sequences by Wenders’ wife Donata — drawing on the Japanese concept of komerebi, or the play of light in trees — allude to Hirayama’s equally peaceful but poetically-inclined inner life. —

Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 May 2023 As cool as the concept may be, there’s some room for improvement. —

Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 May 2023 The concept was that family is his greatest weakness, and family is also our greatest insult — the way to almost hurt him by teasing him with this. —

Vulture, 22 May 2023 The four-day work week concept isn’t new, nor unique to the U.S. —

Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023 The concept is not new, but the offerings vary from library to library and are in constant flux. —

Gracie Warda, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023 The concept of education choice is very popular among Texas voters. —

Matthew Ladner, National Review, 15 May 2023 Lloyd projects a disinterest, while a delighted Ron pitches the film’s merits: The concept is charming, the leads are likable, and the experience is above all pleasant. —

Erik Adams, Chron, 15 May 2023 The newest concept will take the stage at the 2023 French Open, which begins later this month. —

Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 13 May 2023

Adjective

Folk hopes the multi-concept space can operate as a hub for the Paddington community. —

Chloe Sachdev, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2023 The project is planned to go before the planning commission on Oct. 18 for a pre-concept review. —

Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 4 Oct. 2022 The approach is no different for the team behind Oceanside’s just-opened The Lab Collaborative (TLC), a multi-concept food and drink destination that opened Jan. 5 in downtown Oceanside. —

San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2022 From March 25-27, Frame, a multi-concept restaurant in Hazel Park, will host Slavic Solidarity, an immersive dinner experience, featuring five courses of Ukrainian staples. —

Lyndsay C. Green, Detroit Free Press, 2 Mar. 2022 The Supper Club is the final piece of the 400-seat, three-story, multi-concept Twelve Thirty Club to open. —

Maya Kachroo-levine, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2021 The vast, multi-concept Italian dining destination closed in 2018, one of many restaurants that had tried and failed in the neighborhood over the past decade. —

San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2021 This pre-concept-of-war GEM has somehow STILL never been lived in! —

Isabella Giovannini, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2021 Concept art showed a mystical, face-having tree looming over a parking lot full of ordinary looking sedans. —

Joanna Robinson, HWD, 14 July 2017 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'concept.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.