ideally
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
used to say what you would like to happen if everything were perfect.
used to indicate the most desirable or preferred outcome, often acknowledging that reality may differ.
Simple“Ideally, we would like to finish the project by Friday, but Monday is also okay.”
In context“Ideally, the candidate should possess at least five years of experience in international law, though we are willing to consider exceptional junior applicants.”
Usageoften used at the beginning of a sentence to set a condition.
Synonymspreferablyif possible - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
in a way that is perfect or exactly right for a situation.
in an ideal manner; perfectly suited to a specific purpose or set of requirements.
Simple“The small cottage was ideally located near the beach and the local shops.”
In context“The new software is ideally suited for small businesses that require robust accounting features without the complexity of enterprise-level systems.”
Usagefrequently modifies adjectives or verbs to show a perfect fit.
Synonyms
Usage ideally suit
“Ideally, in our view, the people who use a social media platform should have a greater say in the kinds of information shown to them.”
“They say similar experiments should eventually be carried out with less enculturated apes, ideally wild populations.”
From ideal + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.