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Synonyms

dreamy

American  
[dree-mee] / ˈdri mi /

adjective

dreamier, dreamiest

  1. of the nature of or characteristic of dreams; visionary.

  2. vague; dim.

  3. soothing; restful; quieting.

    dreamy music.

  4. given to daydreaming or reverie.

  5. abounding in dreams; characterized by or causing dreams.

  6. Informal. wonderful; marvelous.

    He has a dreamy new convertible.
dreamy British  
/ ˈdriːmɪ /

adjective

  1. vague or impractical

  2. resembling a dream in quality

  3. relaxing; gentle

    dreamy music

  4. informal wonderful

  5. having dreams, esp daydreams

"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

  • dreamily adverb
  • dreaminess noun

Etymology

Origin of dreamy

First recorded in 1560–70; dream + -y 1

Explanation

Things that are dreamy seem slightly strange and unreal, but in a lovely way. A dreamy tune on the radio might make you close your eyes and smile. Your favorite tea shop might have a dreamy atmosphere, and your favorite movie might be slow and dreamy, with dreamlike images and meditative music. If a person is dreamy, she tends to live in her head, thinking or daydreaming. Informally, you can also describe something or someone that's wonderful or nice to look at as dreamy: "He's my favorite singer, and he's so dreamy." This casual meaning began as US teen slang in the 1940s.

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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.

She debuted an absolutely dreamy rock ballad with guest guitarist Greg Gonzalez of the band Cigarettes After Sex, a longtime favorite of Karol’s.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

"It was dreamy to be in the King and Queen's living room," Brown said.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

It feels dreamy to imagine a 67-year-old tragedy resolving itself in this way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

He wrote songs for the soundtrack that complement Trevor Jones’ score, including a dreamy ballad, “As the World Falls Down,” that critics frequently list as one of his best songs.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2026

Ophie wasn’t sure what she would do if Mama once again chided her for being too dreamy and making up fairy stories.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

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.