main idea
Americannoun
-
the most important or central thought of a paragraph or larger section of text, which tells the reader what the text is about.
Find the main idea in each paragraph.
Etymology
Origin of main idea
First recorded in 1855–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That’s the main idea behind the “Norimaki Synthesizer” – the new taste display.
From NewsForKids.net • May 16, 2024
Companies who routinely violate the law could face fines, Haney said, but the main idea is to let employees know what to expect from their work.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2024
The main idea of the law is to regulate AI based on its capacity to cause harm to society.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2024
“Kasselakis is a prime example of this trend, the main idea being that the adoption of sheer imagery — not just gay, but also young and energetic — will do the trick,” Mr. Seferiades added.
From New York Times • Nov. 10, 2023
But I agree with the main idea behind the nostalgia: literate people should know how to think about grammar.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.