Dictionary

idealize en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /aɪˈdiəˌlaɪz/ (Canada, General-American)
• /aɪˈdɪəlaɪz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From ideal + -ize. Compare French idéaliser.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To regard something as ideal.
2. (intransitive) To conceive or form an ideal.
   • People tell me that I wouldn't be so anxious for a lover if I knew the kinds of problems which such a relationship brings, to which I reply that, yes, perhaps I am idealizing somewhat, but basically I know that people aren't plastic, and that where there are human beings there are problems, and, all the same, I think it can be worth it in the long run if there is honesty on both sides. 1975 December 20, Alan Belkin, “On Relationships”, in Gay Community News, volume 3, number 25, page 5:
3. (transitive) To portray using idealization.

Forms

Deriveds

idealization · idealized · unidealize · idealizer · overidealize · idealizable

Relateds

ideate

Translations (39)

ro idealiza (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · la ideālizō (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · sh idealizírati (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · fi ihannoida (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · sv idealisera (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · pt idealizar (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · lv idealizēt (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · es idealizar (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · sh идеализи́рати (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · ast idealizar (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · gl idealizar (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · eo idealigi (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · hu idealizál (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · es idealizar (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · pl wyidealizować (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · hu eszményít (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · fr idéaliser (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · da idealisere (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · de idealisieren (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · it idealizzare (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · pt idealizar (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · cs idealizovat (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · it idealizzare (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · ru идеализи́ровать (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · uk ідеалізува́ти (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · ru идеализи́ровать (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · ca idealitzar (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · pms idealisé (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · ca idealitzar (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · be ідэалізава́ць (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · fr idéaliser (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · de idealisieren (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · gl idealizar (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · nl idealiseren (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · kk дәріптеу (intransitive: to conceive or form an ideal) · bg идеализирам (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · kk дәріптеу (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · lv idealizēt (transitive: to regard something as ideal) · pl idealizować (transitive: to regard something as ideal)