ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ideally

adv. sent.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //aɪˈdiɫi// UK //aɪdˈiəli// ide·al·ly

adv. in a perfect way or in the best possible situation. You use this when you are describing what you want to happen, even if it might be difficult to achieve.

adv. in a manner that satisfies one's conception of what is perfect; most suitably. Often functions as a disjunct to express the speaker's preference for an optimal outcome.


SIMPLE

Ideally, we should arrive before the meeting starts.

CONTEXTUAL

Ideally, the new software will be compatible with all our existing hardware to avoid extra costs.

COMPLEX

While the project can proceed with a smaller team, ideally we would recruit two more specialists to ensure the deadline is met without compromising quality.

Origin

From ideal + -ly.

Usage

Sentence adverb — typically placed at the beginning of a sentence to set the context for a desired outcome.

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