idea

1 something imagined or pictured in the mind my idea of the perfect vacation spot is an uncrowded, unspoiled beach Synonyms abstraction, cogitation, concept, conception, image, impression, intellection, mind's eye, notion, picture, thought Related Words apprehension, premonition, presentiment; preconception, prejudice, prepossession; chimera, delusion, hallucination, illusion, phantasm (also fantasm); caprice, conceit, fancy, freak, kink, vagary, whim; cognition, observation, perception, reflection; assumption, belief, conclusion, conviction; conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, supposition, surmise, theory; brainchild, brainstorm, brain wave, inspiration Near Antonyms actuality, fact, reality

2 someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation Helen Keller remains my idea of a person with indomitable spirit Synonyms beau ideal, classic, eidolon, exemplar, ideal, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon, patron saintRelated Words role model; embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink; archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern; guideline, principle, rule; gauge (also gage), standard, touchstone; essence, quintessence; acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

3 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish the idea is to get the information without seeming to be nosy Synonyms aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne (also bourn), design, dream, end, goal, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thingRelated Words grail, holy grail; plot, project, scheme; desire, hope, mind, wish; nirvana; destination, terminusNear Antonyms means, method, way