idaho
idaho — noun
1. one of the US states in the inland Northwest, used in everyday talk about living
one of the US states in the inland Northwest, used in everyday talk about living, working, studying, or travelling there, with Boise as its capital.
Kenji moved to Idaho after finding a teaching job in Boise.
pattern: move to Idaho
Sari spent August in Idaho, hiking near Coeur d'Alene with cousins.
pattern: in Idaho for a summer trip
Many families in Idaho closed their windows during the smoky week.
Brian drove across Idaho before reaching Oregon for a summer job.
pattern: across Idaho on a road trip
Adina studies nursing in Idaho and flies home for holidays.
- in Idaho
- to Idaho
- across Idaho
- southern Idaho
- the Gem State
a nickname used in tourism, local pride, and news headlines
- ID
the postal abbreviation used in addresses and short official labels
Grammar Patterns
live in Idaho
move to Idaho
drive across Idaho
Usage Note
Most often follows prepositions such as 'in', 'to', 'from', and 'across' when the state is treated simply as a place in daily life. Distinguish from geographical name/1, which is more natural in maps, history lessons, and government-style fact statements.
Common Mistakes
idaho — geographical name
1. the formal name of a US state in the inland Northwest, used in maps, history, an
the formal name of a US state in the inland Northwest, used in maps, history, and official facts when people talk about its borders, its capital Boise, or its place next to Canada.
The map showed Idaho between Washington, Montana, Utah, and Oregon.
map context: Idaho between neighboring states
Idaho shares a short border with Canada at its northern tip.
geography fact: Idaho border with Canada
Boise is the capital of Idaho, unlike Seattle in Washington.
pattern: the capital of Idaho
The class learned how miners and farmers helped shape Idaho.
history context: helped shape Idaho
A winter storm covered much of southern Idaho in heavy snow.
- the state of Idaho
- the capital of Idaho
- northern Idaho
- southern Idaho
- the state of Idaho
a fuller form common in textbooks, reports, and official speech
- the Gem State
a nickname often used in tourism or regional writing
Grammar Patterns
the state of Idaho
Idaho borders Montana
the capital of Idaho
Usage Note
Common in atlases, classroom facts, and official writing, especially when speakers mention borders, neighboring states, or the capital. Distinguish from noun/1, which sounds more natural in casual talk about living, studying, or travelling in the state.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- Idahoannoun
- Idahoanadjective
Common collocations
Nouns
- the state of Idaho
- the capital of Idaho
- southern Idaho
- northern Idaho
Phrases
- the Gem State
- move to Idaho
- live in Idaho
Prepositions
- in Idaho
- to Idaho
- from Idaho
- across Idaho
Etymology
The exact origin of the name Idaho is uncertain. It entered English in the 1800s as the name of a western territory and later became the name of the US state.