dream

[ dreem ]

noun

1. a succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep.
2. the sleeping state in which this occurs.
3. an object seen in a dream.
4. an involuntary vision occurring to a person when awake.
5. a vision voluntarily indulged in while awake; daydream; reverie.
6. an aspiration; goal; aim:

   A trip to Europe is his dream.

7. a wild or vain fancy.
8. something of an unreal beauty, charm, or excellence.

verb (used without object)

, dreamed or dreamt, dream·ing.

1. to have a dream.
2. to indulge in daydreams or reveries:

   He dreamed about vacation plans when he should have been working.

3. to think or conceive of something in a very remote way (usually followed by of ):

   I wouldn't dream of asking them.

verb (used with object)

, dreamed or dreamt, dream·ing.

1. to see or imagine in sleep or in a vision.
2. to imagine as if in a dream; fancy; suppose.
3. to pass or spend (time) in dreaming (often followed by away ):

   to dream away the afternoon.

adjective

1. most desirable; ideal:

   a dream vacation.

verb phrase

1. to form in the imagination; devise:

   They dreamed up the most impossible plan.

dream

/ driːm /

noun

1. 1. mental activity, usually in the form of an imagined series of events, occurring during certain phases of sleep
   2. ( as modifier )

      a dream sequence

   3. ( in combination ) oneiric

      dreamland

2. 1. a sequence of imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake; daydream; fantasy
   2. ( as modifier )

      a dream world

3. a person or thing seen or occurring in a dream
4. a cherished hope; ambition; aspiration
5. a vain hope
6. a person or thing that is as pleasant, or seemingly unreal, as a dream
7. go like a dream
   to move, develop, or work very well

verb

1. may take a clause as object to undergo or experience (a dream or dreams)
2. intr to indulge in daydreams
3. intr to suffer delusions; be unrealistic

   you're dreaming if you think you can win

4. whenintr, foll by of or about to have an image (of) or fantasy (about) in or as if in a dream
5. intrfoll byof to consider the possibility (of)

   I wouldn't dream of troubling you

adjective

1. too good to be true; ideal

   dream kitchen

Derived Forms

• ˈdreamfully, adverb
• ˈdreaming, nounadjective
• ˈdreamless, adjective
• ˈdreamlessly, adverb
• ˈdreamingly, adverb
• ˈdreamˌlike, adjective
• ˈdreamlessness, noun
• ˈdreamful, adjective

Other Words From

• dreamful adjective
• dreamful·ly adverb
• dreamful·ness noun
• dreaming·ly adverb
• dreamlike adjective
• re·dream verb redreamed or redreamt redreaming
• un·dreamed adjective
• un·dreaming adjective
• un·dreamlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dream¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English dreem, Old English drēam “joy, mirth, gladness,” cognate with Old Saxon drōm “mirth, dream,” Old Norse draumr, Old High German troum “dream”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dream¹

Old English drēam song; related to Old High German troum, Old Norse draumr, Greek thrulos noise

Idioms and Phrases

• pipe dream
• sweet dreams
• wouldn't dream of

Synonym Study

Dream, nightmare, and vision refer to the kinds of mental images that form during sleep. Dream is the general term for any such succession of images. A nightmare is a dream that brings fear or anxiety: frightened by a nightmare. Vision refers to a series of images of unusual vividness, clarity, order, and significance, sometimes seen in a dream.

Example Sentences

Early evenings, his mind wanders the most, as if he’s awake in a dream.

From Los Angeles Times

Kellie says she'd always hoped to meet someone this way, but thought it was a pipe dream.

From BBC

"Birds were the inspiration for airplanes in the first place, and the Wright brothers made this dream come true, but even today's planes are still quite far from what birds are capable of," says LIS PhD student Won Dong Shin.

From Science Daily

Dougie's prediction: Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are like a dream double act, who are beautiful to watch.

From BBC

I met my dream guy at a climbing gym and tried hard to get his attention.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delusion
• fantasy
• idea
• image
• imagination
• nightmare
• thought