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Definition of ideate

ideate

/ˈaɪ.di.eɪt/
i · de · ate
Adjective:ideational
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Past Simple:ideated
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Past Participle:ideated
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Present Participle:ideating
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ideate Lexical Profile

ideate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To form an idea, thought, or mental image of something; to conceive or imagine.

Example

"The product team met for three hours to ideate new features for the upcoming software release."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for ideate

Word Nuance & Usage

Originally a technical term in psychology and philosophy, 'ideate' has become widely used in corporate and design-thinking contexts as a synonym for 'brainstorm', where some style critics view it as business jargon.

• Nearby Words

idealized
ideally
idealness
ideate
ideation
identical
identically

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 17th century from the noun 'idea' (ultimately from Ancient Greek 'idein', meaning 'to see') combined with the verbal suffix '-ate', or as a back-formation from 'ideation'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ideate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ideate
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