reverie

Sometimes rev·er·y

[rev-uh-ree]

noun

1. a state of dreamy meditation or fanciful musing.

   lost in reverie.

   Synonyms: brown study, abstraction

2. a daydream.

3. a fantastic, visionary, or impractical idea.

   reveries that will never come to fruition.

4. Music.,  an instrumental composition of a vague and dreamy character.

reverie

/ ˈrɛvərɪ /

noun

1. an act or state of absent-minded daydreaming

   to fall into a reverie

2. a piece of instrumental music suggestive of a daydream

3. archaic,  a fanciful or visionary notion; daydream

Word History and Origins

Origin of reverie¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Old French reverie, resverie, derivative of rever, resver, raver “to speak wildly, wander, dream”; rave ¹, -ery

Word History and Origins

Origin of reverie¹

C14: from Old French resverie wildness, from resver to behave wildly, of uncertain origin; see _rave ¹

Example Sentences

The remark startled Penelope out of her reverie, for “Penny” is what Miss Mortimer always called her, and no one else ever did.

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A familiar voice from behind me brought me out of my reverie.

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The six-bedroom home is described in its listing as an “architectural reverie” that draws “respectful inspiration from the Chumash people,” a Native American tribe that once occupied the land.

Read more on MarketWatch

This moves the contact into the seldom used “X file,” where I can, in my moments of reverie, review and remind myself of those once treasured relationships.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Spirit Voices” conjured an ayahuasca reverie with its thicket of guitars and hand percussion, while the sprawling and time-signature-bending “The Cool, Cool River” showed Simon the musician — not just the poet — still in absolute command.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contemplation 
• fantasy 
• meditation 
• trance