the idea

noun
UK: /ðiː aɪˈdɪə/
US: /ðiː aɪˈdiːə/

  1. A thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action.

    1. The idea is to go to the beach this weekend [ ] [ ]
    2. I don't think the idea of having a surprise party for her is a good one, she hates surprises [ ] [ ]

  2. A belief or opinion.

    1. The idea that we are alone in the universe is strange. [ ] [ ]
    2. It challenges the idea that economic growth is always beneficial for everyone involved globally [ ] [ ]

  3. A mental impression or understanding.

    1. I have no idea what you are talking about now, explain it clearly. [ ] [ ]
    2. I have a pretty good idea of what she wants, even if she hasn't explicitly stated her preferences in details [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

concept opinion notion understanding thought suggestion belief plan

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "the idea" in English means: A thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action., A belief or opinion., A mental impression or understanding..

The phonetic transcription of "the idea" is /ðiː aɪˈdɪə/ in British English and /ðiː aɪˈdiːə/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "the idea": concept, opinion, notion, understanding, thought, suggestion, belief, plan.

Example usage of "the idea": "The idea is to go to the beach this weekend". More examples on the page.