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Synonyms

daydream

American  
[dey-dreem] / ˈdeɪˌdrim /

noun

  1. a reverie indulged in while awake.

verb (used without object)

  1. to indulge in such a reverie.

    Synonyms:
    woolgather, muse, dream, fantasize
daydream British  
/ ˈdeɪˌdriːm /

noun

  1. a pleasant dreamlike fantasy indulged in while awake; idle reverie

  2. a pleasant scheme or wish that is unlikely to be fulfilled; pipe dream

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to have daydreams; indulge in idle fantasy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of daydream

First recorded in 1675–85; day + dream

Explanation

A daydream is a fantasy you have while you're awake. Daydreams are pleasant, and they can be so absorbing that they distract you from what's going on around you. You might have a daydream about moving to a big city, or about how you'd spend your millions if you won the lottery. To do this — dream, muse, or fantasize — is also to daydream. Your math teacher might scold you, saying, "You can't daydream in the middle of the calculus final!" The word dates from the 17th century.

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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.

Earlier this month, Daydream State announced the lineup for Block Party’s more laid back sibling fest Day In Day Out, led by Bon Iver and Leon Bridges.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2023

Samsung’s Gear VR, Google Cardboard and Google Daydream all asked consumers to strap on goggles and drop in their smartphones to use as VR screens.

From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2021

Google employees leading the Starline effort previously worked on the company’s virtual reality headsets such as Cardboard and Daydream, which were discontinued in recent months after struggling to find an audience.

From Reuters • May 24, 2021

But in the middle of recording her fifth album Daydream in 1995, she cut a secret alt-rock record, channelling the "rage" and "anger" she felt as her marriage fell apart.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2020

George swept off through the curtain to help with the customers, and Fred led Harry back into the main part of the shop to find Hermione and Ginny still poring over the Patented Daydream Charms.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

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.