the idea

noun

: the central meaning or purpose of something : goal or intention
The whole idea of the game is to keep from getting caught.
The idea is to get people to attend.

Examples of the idea in a Sentence

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The term works best when the player on the move is important to their team, perhaps a fan favourite, but has buckled at the idea of joining (insert ‘bigger’ club). — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Adults like the idea of school, Gray concludes, and so are reluctant to criticize it. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 The filing suggested replacing it with an outdoor amphitheater, though administration officials have downplayed the idea as a present plan. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Gunn still struggled with the idea of coming back home until Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson invited her on one of his cruise ships for her return to Australia. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the idea

Rhymes for the idea

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Browse Nearby Words

the Ice Age
the idea
the idea behind
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Cite this Entry

“The idea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20idea. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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