ideally

ide·al·ly | \ ī-ˈdē-ə-lē

How to pronounce ideally (audio)

, -ˈdē(-ə)l-lē \

Definition of ideally

1a : conformably to or in respect to an ideal : perfectly

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

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about ideally

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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 Put in the effort to make breakfast, and stop to enjoy the fruits of my labor, ideally with a good cup of tea — and maybe a few minutes of peace and quiet. — Washington Post, "Better breakfasts, less takeout, more togetherness: Our 2020 food resolutions," 3 Feb. 2020 This would ideally also flush out any lurking pathogens and help keep infections at bay. — Patia Braithwaite, SELF, "Is It a UTI or Yeast Infection? Here's How to Tell the Difference," 3 Feb. 2020 The truck would home in on a signal broadcast by the artillery unit, then use AI to plot a course using existing roads and trails, ideally taking into account reports of enemy activity to ensure the smoothest and safest possible ride. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Hauling Artillery Is Boring and Dangerous, so the Army Is Bringing In the Robots," 28 Jan. 2020 Well, the name should say it all: The Cross is intended as a crossover rifle that’s ideally adapted for both hunting and long-range shooting. — Richard Mann, Field & Stream, "Best New Long-Range Precision Rifles of the 2020 SHOT Show," 27 Jan. 2020 The Appalachian Trail—and all trails—should ideally feel supportive and social for everyone. — Lucy Parks, Outside Online, "How Being LGBTQ Affected My AT Thru-Hike," 22 Jan. 2020 Just heat some oil, add some scallions, ginger, and garlic, pour in the chicken broth (ideally homemade, but at least high-quality), whisk in gochujang and soy sauce, then add daikon, then the kimchi and tofu, simmer, aaaaaaand done. — Sasha Levine, Bon Appétit, "I Have This Tofu Kimchi Soup Recipe Memorized," 10 Jan. 2020 Instead, ideally, there could be as many successors as there are companies ready to change their ways. — Heather Landy, Quartz at Work, "Who will replace Paul Polman as the face of sustainable capitalism?," 18 Dec. 2019 Barracuda is one of Europe’s most creative concert promoters and ideally complements the portfolio of our EVENTIM LIVE promoter network. — Wolfgang Spahr, Billboard, "CTS Eventim Buys Majority Stake in Austrian Promoter Barracuda Music," 4 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ideally.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

6 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Ideally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ideally. Accessed 17 Feb. 2020.

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