idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.
innovative ideas
my idea of paradise
concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.
a society with no concept of private property
conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.
our changing conception of what constitutes art
thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.
commit your thoughts to paper
notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.
you have the oddest notions
impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.
the first impression is of soaring height
Example Sentences
My idea is to study law. Starting her own business seemed like a good idea at the time, but it turned out badly. Whose idea was it to leave so early? My idea was that if we left early we could beat the crowd. Buying the car was a bad idea. I have some ideas for redecorating the room. He has an idea for a movie. I'm not sure what to do next. Do you have any ideas? She's always full of new ideas. It's a good idea to talk to people who have actually been there. See More
Recent Examples on the WebCover Stories reporter Patrick O’Driscoll once tried to sell an idea on bear hunting by bursting into a meeting in a bear suit while a reporter with a toy blunderbuss chased him around the conference table.USA Today, 14 Sep. 2022 Pozolo balked at the idea that McDavid had no inkling in the 2000s that the abuse allegations might be credible after helping to recover missing recordings and handing bags of cash to people who returned videos McDavid knew could destroy Kelly. Michael Tarm, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The occupation authorities eventually vetoed that idea. David Frum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2022 Over the first two games, Knowles’ play calling gave us an idea what aggression means to him. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 14 Sep. 2022 Robert Lacey, a royal historian, said the idea gained traction after a royal trip to Canada in 2011. Karla Adam, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 The industry’s advertisements play into the idea that ADHD informs every facet of one’s life and personality, including commonplace behaviors like forgetting car keys or procrastinating about a boring errand.WIRED, 14 Sep. 2022 Tuesday’s inflation figures destroyed the idea that the Fed would pause soon. James Mackintosh, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Another way to survive would be to become a nonprofit, as VTDigger did, or at least to establish a nonprofit arm—an idea that the Indy and Seven Days have both explored. Bill Mckibben, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin, from Greek, from idein to see — more at wit