ideal·ize idealizes idealizing idealized in BRIT, also use idealise If you idealize something or someone, you think of them, or represent them to other people, as being perfect or much better than they really are. People idealize the past + idealized ideal·ized an idealised image of how a parent should be + idealization idealizations ideali·za·tion Marie's idealisation of her dead husband. to imagine or represent something or someone as being perfect or better than they really are