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

If keeping the waste bin in a cabinet isn’t an option, place it in the corner, ideally behind a toilet or cabinet. —Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 20 June 2026

When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. —Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 19 June 2026

Identify a safe space in your home or workplace, ideally a basement or interior room without windows. —John Tufts, IndyStar, 18 June 2026

Next, apply a lipstick or lip stain with a matte finish—ideally patted on with your fingers—to finish it off. —Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 17 June 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