How to Use ideally in a Sentence

ideally

adverb
  • His skills made him ideally suited for the job.
  • The ski slope was situated ideally.
  • They were ideally suited to one another.
  • Good teams ideally don’t have a ton of turnover.
    — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026
  • They are ideally paired with house made ranch or blue cheese dips.
    — George A. Paul, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Write down those steps — ideally by hand — and try to do at least one step each day.
    — Christina Caron, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
  • The Knicks are not set up ideally.
    — Fred Katz, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • The pen is ideally light while holding enough weight to keep it steady.
    — Paul Schrodt, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022
  • It should ideally be consumed in three to four days.
    — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 June 2026
  • Grab a pair of gloves, ideally leather work gloves or garden gloves.
    — Tara Hohoff, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
  • Then put the glass in the fridge to let the foam set for at least a minute, ideally three or four.
    — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2021
  • Then put the glass in the fridge to let the foam set for at least a minute, ideally three or four.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 31 May 2025
  • It's made ideally for small and medium sized pets.
    — Jessica Moore, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
  • It's made ideally for small and medium sized pets.
    — Jessica Moore, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Only time and more episodes — and ideally, less urine — will tell.
    — Jodi Walker, EW.com, 12 Nov. 2021
  • Here’s a look at the five booster chips, and when they should ideally be used.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 27 June 2026
  • The next running drill should ideally be done on a track or a half-mile stretch of road.
    — Ali Nolan, SELF, 16 June 2022
  • Sometimes low enough to touch the tops of their feet—or, ideally, the queen’s!
    — Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 17 Oct. 2022
  • Chalk paint should ideally have a quick dry time, be easy to clean, durable, and cut back on your prep time.
    — Addie Morton, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2023
  • Aim for at least half, though ideally more, of your baby's naps to be in their bassinet or crib.
    — Heather Gowen Walsh, Parents, 13 Feb. 2025
  • Use a wire brush to scrub off any rust damage, ideally down to bare metal.
    — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2023
  • Our system feels as heavy as that sounds and should ideally be moved by two people.
    — PC Magazine, 12 Apr. 2025
  • The soil will ideally be like a wrung-out sponge, not dripping or soggy.
    — Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2026
  • Fringing and trim–ideally both at once–are always a good idea.
    — Hannah Coates, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Instead, nuts and seeds should ideally be kept in the freezer—or at least the fridge.
    — Christina Manian, Rdn, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2023
  • To drink like a local, skip the straw and gulp it — ideally while noshing on clam cakes.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 28 Apr. 2023
  • Water falls as snow in the winter and stays frozen (ideally) through late spring.
    — Hannah Gard, CNN, 1 July 2021
  • Dry the tent in a cool, shaded area, ideally away from where there could be bird droppings.
    — Sarah Kester, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2023
  • Make sure the tree has full sun for six to eight hours a day, ideally in a south-facing window.
    — Heather Bien, The Spruce, 7 June 2026
  • Overall the sound in the hall was bright, bold, and alive, if not quite yet ideally balanced.
    — Jeremy Eichler, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Mar. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ideally.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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