ideal
eye-DEERL
Ideal (adjective) means Perfect or the best possible for a given purpose. Example: “This spot is ideal for a picnic.”
adjective
1
Perfect or the best possible for a given purpose.
"This spot is ideal for a picnic."
"She has the ideal temperament for teaching young children."
"A quiet room with good light is ideal for studying."
noun
1
A standard of perfection that people aim for, even if it can't fully be reached.
"He never quite lived up to his own ideals of honesty."
"Equality is an ideal that many societies keep working towards."
"Young people often hold ideals that real life later tests."
How to use ideal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPerfect for the purpose, or a standard of perfection someone aspires to.
Common pairings
ideal candidate
ideal world
high ideals
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Word forms
- Plural
- ideals
- Comparative
- more ideal
- Superlative
- most ideal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
This spot is _____ for a picnic.
Etymology
From Late Latin idealis ("existing in idea"), built on Latin idea; related to "idea".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for ideal
See all rhymes for ideal →Frequently asked questions
What does “ideal” mean?
The word “ideal” means perfect or the best possible for a given purpose. In plain terms, perfect for the purpose, or a standard of perfection someone aspires to.
How do you pronounce “ideal”?
“Ideal” is pronounced eye-DEERL (/aɪˈdi(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “ideal” in a sentence?
Here is “ideal” used in a sentence: “This spot is ideal for a picnic.”
What is another word for “ideal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ideal” include order ideal.
What is the opposite of “ideal”?
The opposite of “ideal” — its antonyms — is filter.
What part of speech is “ideal”?
Depending on how it is used, “ideal” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “ideal” come from?
The word “ideal” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin idealis ("existing in idea"), built on Latin idea; related to "idea".
Is “ideal” a common word?
“Ideal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between ideal and perfect?
Perfect means having no flaws at all, complete in itself. Ideal means the best possible for a particular purpose or situation, even if it is not literally flawless. A day can be ideal for a picnic without being perfect, because 'ideal' is judged against a goal rather than against absolute perfection.
Can 'ideal' be a noun as well as an adjective?
Yes. As an adjective it describes something best-suited to a purpose, as in 'the ideal candidate.' As a noun, an ideal is a standard of perfection or a principle worth striving for, as in 'she lives by her ideals.' Same word, but one describes and the other names a goal.
What is the opposite of ideal?
As an adjective, the opposite of ideal is something like unsuitable, poor, or far from ideal — a wrong fit for the purpose. In its noun sense, the opposite of an ideal might be reality, since ideals describe how things should be rather than how they always are in practice.
What is an example of ideal?
You might describe a quiet, well-lit room as the ideal place to study, or say that mild, dry weather is ideal for hiking. In each case something is called ideal because it matches the needs of a specific purpose especially well — not because nothing about it could ever be improved.
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