dreamy
Americanadjective
-
dreamier,
comparative
-
dreamiest
superlative
adjective
-
vague or impractical
-
resembling a dream in quality
-
relaxing; gentle
dreamy music
-
informal wonderful
-
having dreams, esp daydreams
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of dreamy
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.
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.
See Examples For:
For generations, summer in Europe has been languid and dreamy, bringing fine weather and lengthy days on sunny beaches and terraces.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
“The Governor’s Waltz” is a dreamy folk track about the stress of performance and desire for connection, with ghostly backing vocals and a piano that sounds like a series of tuned bells.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
The soundtrack sets a more accurate tone right away with a gentle cover of R.E.M.’s “Nightswimming” that segues into Alex G’s dreamy synths.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
"My crush is on you, Ellie," screams one fan, as dreamy synths usher in the anthemic chorus: "Me and you were meant to be in loooove!"
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
He looked very tired, a regard which manifested itself not in dark circles, or pallor, but a dreamy and bright-cheeked sadness.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
While Justin Vernon of Bon Iver contributes writing and production to several tracks, the dreamier aesthetic of his own records is nowhere to be found.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
It became even dreamier when he took the outright lead after four birdies on the first nine without dropping a shot.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2025
And all the dreamier if they put that team in her town — and not that stepsister city across the river.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2025
James, you also wrote that the series is “warmer, dreamier, more tactile” than the novel.
From New York Times ● May 15, 2020
Her constant prattle had given way to a dreamier state.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
While on the podcast, Spencer described Rodrigo as “the dreamiest boss of all time” and opened up about taking care of her mind and body on the road.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2025
Britain’s dreamiest indie-pop export has come along since making her highly anticipated Seattle debut at Chop Suey two and a half years ago.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 12, 2024
It's just so fun, and animation is the dreamiest thing to do because we grew up watching cartoons.
From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2024
The last iteration is the strangest and dreamiest and reverses almost everything, especially gender.
From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2020
In the other rooms of the house her parents and Rafik were wrapped in their deepest, dreamiest breaths by now.
From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye
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.
