idear

ee-deh-ahr/i.ðeˈaɾ/

“idear” means “to devise” in Spanish (planning or creating a strategy).

to devise, to think up

Also: to invent, to design

VerbB1regular ar

A small bird using a twig to reach a piece of fruit on a high branch.

gerundideando

past Participleideado

infinitiveidear

📝 In Action

Tenemos que idear un plan para la fiesta de cumpleaños.

We have to think up a plan for the birthday party.

Ella ideó un sistema nuevo para organizar los libros.

She devised a new system for organizing the books.

El arquitecto ideó una estructura que resiste terremotos.

The architect designed a structure that resists earthquakes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

imaginar (to imagine)
trazar (to sketch out / to plot)
concebir (to conceive)

Antonyms

copiar (to copy)
imitar (to imitate)

Common Collocations

idear un plan – to devise a plan
idear una estrategia – to think up a strategy
idear una solución – to come up with a solution

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesidearan

yoideara

túidearas

vosotrosidearais

nosotrosideáramos

él/ella/ustedideara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesideen

yoidee

túidees

vosotrosideéis

nosotrosideemos

él/ella/ustedidee

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesidearon

yoideé

túideaste

vosotrosideasteis

nosotrosideamos

él/ella/ustedideó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesideaban

yoideaba

túideabas

vosotrosideabais

nosotrosideábamos

él/ella/ustedideaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesidean

yoideo

túideas

vosotrosideáis

nosotrosideamos

él/ella/ustedidea

View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "idear" in Spanish:

to design→to devise→to invent→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: idear

Question 1 of 3

If you 'ideas un plan', you are...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

idea(idea) — Noun

ideal(ideal) — Adjective

idealizar(to idealize) — Verb

🎵 Rhymes▼

crear planear

📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish noun 'idea', which traces back to the Greek 'idein', meaning 'to see'. It literally means giving a mental form or vision to something.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: idearItalian: ideare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'idear' used often in daily conversation?

It is less common than 'pensar', but very common when discussing projects, business strategies, or artistic creations.

Can I use 'idear' for a physical object?

Yes, but it refers to the design phase. You 'idear' the concept of a new phone, then you 'fabricar' (manufacture) it.

Does it have any irregular forms?

No, it is a perfectly regular -ar verb in every tense.