Synonyms

fantasize

American

[fan-tuh-sahyz] / ˈfæn təˌsaɪz /

especially British, fantasise or phantasize

verb (used without object)

fantasized, fantasizing

to conceive fanciful or extravagant notions, ideas, suppositions, or the like (often followed byabout ).

to fantasize about the ideal job.

verb (used with object)

fantasized, fantasizing

to create in one's fancy, daydreams, or the like; imagine.

to fantasize a trip through space.

fantasize British

/ ˈfæntəˌsaɪz /

verb

to conceive extravagant or whimsical ideas, images, etc
(intr) to conceive pleasant or satisfying mental images

"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

fantasizer noun

Etymology

Origin of fantasize

First recorded in 1925–30; fantas(y) + -ize

Explanation

To fantasize is to imagine things that are not true and sometimes not possible. We fantasize about things we wish were real. Have you ever daydreamed that you're a king, or a superstar in the NBA, or able to fly? Then you've been fantasizing. Fantasizing is something everyone does, though we all have different fantasies. You can fantasize about things that are possible or impossible, including being the President, riding a unicorn, or being the President of unicorns. You can fantasize about anything you can imagine.

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Vocabulary lists containing fantasize

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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.

Between sets on stage, the two would often take breaks to fantasize about fame.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

I let myself fantasize about doing the same with my baby, about hearing the cries as soon as he or she emerged instead of eerie silence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

Still, he says he didn’t fantasize about becoming a professional musician.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2025

Last year, she started posting more educational videos when she realized she’s living the “Instagram farm dream” many fantasize about.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2025

I was hoping to get sent to a corner, where I could fantasize about a grand Cinderella wedding with Jonathan Rodriquez as my groom.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023