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, dreamt, dreaming. 

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 byof ).

   I wouldn't dream of asking them.

verb (used with object)

dreamed, dreamt, dreaming. 

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 byaway ).

   to dream away the afternoon.

adjective

1. most desirable; ideal.

   a dream vacation.

verb phrase

1. dream up,  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 )

      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. 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. to have an image (of) or fantasy (about) in or as if in a dream

5. to consider the possibility (of)

   I wouldn't dream of troubling you

adjective

1. too good to be true; ideal

   dream kitchen

Other Word Forms

• dreamful adjective
• dreamfully adverb
• dreamfulness noun
• dreamingly adverb
• dreamlike adjective
• redream verb
• undreamed adjective
• undreaming adjective
• undreamlike adjective
• dreaming noun
• dreamless adjective
• dreamlessly adverb
• dreamlessness noun

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

The uncertainty and confusion in the Scottish ranks was not just alarming, it looked like it was going to be fatal to their World Cup dream.

Read more on BBC

“It’s kind of my professional dream to do this by the time I’m really too old to retire. I should retire now, but I’m not doing that,” the now 67-year-old said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But homeownership remains a key part of the American dream, even if it’s increasingly out of reach for many.

Read more on MarketWatch

He owns a pet tortoise he named Tyrosine after an amino acid, and dreams of being an orthodontist after he retires from racing.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

He could scarcely dream of ever approaching it.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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