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ide·al | \ ī-ˈdē(-ə)l 
, ˈī-ˌdē(-ə)l \
, ˈī-ˌdē(-ə)l \Definition of ideal
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : of, relating to, or embodying an ideal
ideal beauty
b : conforming exactly to an ideal, law, or standard : perfect an ideal gas — compare real sense 1c(3)
2a : existing as a mental image or in fancy or imagination only broadly : lacking practicality
b : relating to or constituting mental images, ideas, or conceptions
3 : of or relating to philosophical idealism
4 : existing as an archetypal idea
ideal
nounDefinition of ideal (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : a standard of perfection, beauty, or excellence
2 : one regarded as exemplifying an ideal and often taken as a model for imitation
3 : an ultimate object or aim of endeavor : goal
4 : a subset of a mathematical ring that is closed under addition and subtraction and contains the products of any given element of the subset with each element of the ring
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Other Words from ideal
Noun
idealless \ ī-ˈdē(-ə)l-ləs \ adjective
\ adjectiveSynonyms & Antonyms for ideal
Synonyms: Adjective
- abstract,
- conceptual,
- ideational,
- metaphysical,
- notional,
- theoretical
- (also theoretic)
Synonyms: Noun
Antonyms: Adjective
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Examples of ideal in a Sentence
Adjective
It was an ideal spot for a vacation.
She is an ideal candidate for the job.
The conference provided us with an ideal opportunity to meet new people. Noun
an ideal of romantic love
He hasn't lived up to his high ideals.
She considers the actress her ideal.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective With everyone scrambling to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, businesses and employees are operating under less-than-ideal conditions.
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Karla L. Miller, Washington Post, "Back at work, but facing a 25 percent pay cut," 9 July 2020 Even with the less-than-ideal circumstances surrounding Ford's birth, Silva couldn't be happier with how her life has changed.
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Lena Hansen, PEOPLE.com, "Univision TV Host Pamela Silva on Giving Birth Mid-Pandemic, Starting a New Chapter in Her Life," 1 July 2020 Plus, the adjustable headband and padded headphones boast optimal comfort for listeners, which is ideal for any student.
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Melissa Lee, USA TODAY, "Here's how students can get a free pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones at Best Buy," 13 July 2020 Programs include: Strength and Balance which is ideal for participants ages 50 and older and incorporates stretching, balance, agility, strength and cardio, along with music.
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cleveland, "Avon Brewing Company Presents ZZ’s Big Top set to open July 18: Short Takes on Avon, Avon Lake and North Ridgeville," 10 July 2020 Los Angeles to Hermosa Beach, California Just a few miles away on the coast, the town of Hermosa Beach is ideal for a budget-conscious getaway.
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Travel + Leisure, "8 Affordable Weekend Getaways Around the U.S.," 10 July 2020 Inexpensive yet comfortable, these soft sheets are ideal for travel.
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Lindsay Tigar, CNN Underscored, "Everything you need to go on the safest road trip possible," 9 July 2020 Shoppers say the smallest wedges are ideal for issues like acid reflux, while the larger picks are great for neck or shoulder pain.
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Braelyn Wood, Health.com, "This Pillow Wedge Is a Go-To for Anyone With Sleep Apnea, Acid Reflux, or Back Pain—and It’s on Sale," 7 July 2020 That would be ideal for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who’s faced with mitigating the increase of coronavirus cases as more residents are going back to work, eating at restaurants, shopping at stores and congregating for leisure activities.
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Allie Morris, Dallas News, "Texas Gov. Greg Abbott needs your help to beat the coronavirus: Wear a mask," 6 July 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Most Americans still hew to that classical liberal ideal as do many of those who marched with justified anger over the killing of Mr Floyd.
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The Economist, "Tackling racism The new ideology of race," 9 July 2020 The wide and shallow waters surrounding the Cook Islands makes this South Pacific destination ideal for beach lovers and snorkeling enthusiasts.
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Kendall Cornish, Travel + Leisure, "These Are the 25 Most Romantic Islands in the World, According to Travelers," 8 July 2020 At its core, the movie is too in love with love — or at least its messy, time-jumping ideal of it — for that kind of true discomfort comedy.
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Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, "Andy Samberg gets weird in breezy existential romance Palm Springs: Review," 8 July 2020 But those fireworks didn’t stem from an ideal pairing between track and car.
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Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, "Insider: Despite action-packed Brickyard 400, questions still loom for NASCAR on IMS oval," 6 July 2020 There’s also an accessory rack built into the door that can hold scarves and ties, and a shelf ideal for items that can’t be hung, such as hats, sweaters, and toys.
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Rachel King, Fortune, "Samsung made a closet that disinfects your clothes," 6 July 2020 Johnson accepted a role far from ideal on a personal level.
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Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, "Former Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Johnson ideal fit in Brooklyn," 25 June 2020 Soon, the girlboss ideal became a template for marketing and writing about powerful women in virtually every industry.
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Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, "What Comes After the Girlboss?," 25 June 2020 Slides are a summertime staple (easy to put on and easy to take off = ideal for beach and poolside wear).
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Amanda Tarlton, USA TODAY, "13 Amazon deals on summer 2020’s trendiest shoes: Crocs, Adidas, and more," 24 June 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ideal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Learn More about ideal
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
On 'Idyll' and 'Ideal'
On 'Idyll' and 'Ideal'
Both might describe your country getaway, but in different ways
Dictionary Entries near ideal
See More Nearby EntriesStatistics for ideal
Last Updated
31 Jul 2020
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Ideal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ideal. Accessed 5 Aug. 2020.
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More Definitions for ideal
ideal
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of ideal
(Entry 1 of 2)
: exactly right for a particular purpose, situation, or person
ideal
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of ideal (Entry 2 of 2)
: an idea or standard of perfection or excellence
: someone or something that is believed to be perfect : someone or something that you admire and want to imitate
See the full definition for ideal in the English Language Learners Dictionary
ideal
adjectiveide·al | \ ī-ˈdē-əl \
\Kids Definition of ideal
(Entry 1 of 2)
: having no flaw : perfect ideal weather
ideal
nounKids Definition of ideal (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : a standard of perfection, beauty, or excellence
He couldn't live up to his own ideals.
2 : someone who deserves to be imitated or admired
She considered the older woman her ideal.
ideal
adjectiveide·al | \ ī-ˈdē(-ə)l , ˈī-ˌ \
, ˈī-ˌ \Medical Definition of ideal
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : existing as an archetypal idea
2a : existing as a mental image or in fancy or imagination only
b : relating to or constituting mental images, ideas, or conceptions
ideal
nounMedical Definition of ideal (Entry 2 of 2)
: a standard of perfection, beauty, or excellence
self-criticism and the formation of ideals are…the essential manifestations of the superego— G. S. Blum
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Time Traveler for ideal
The first known use of ideal was in the 15th century
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