DictionaryAI

dream

DREEM/dɹiːm/

Pluraldreams

Verbdreams, dreaming, dreamed

10 meanings of dream

Practice

  1. 1
    picture while asleepnouncountable
    The pictures and stories your mind makes while you are asleep.

    Like a little movie that plays in your head while you sleep.

    I had a strange dream about flying last night.

    She woke up from a happy dream.

    UsageYou have a dream (not incorrect: make a dream).

    Similarvision

    Note
  2. 2
    life goalnounfigurativelycountable
    Something you really want to happen in your life.

    Like a goal you keep close to your heart.

    Her dream is to become a doctor.

    Owning a small farm has always been his dream.

    UsageYou follow your dream or realize it.

    Similarambition, aspiration, hope, wish, goal

  3. 3
    verbintransitive
    To hope strongly for something you really want.

    Like wishing for something with all your heart.

    I dream of traveling the world someday.

    She dreams about a better life for her kids.

    UsageSay dream of being a doctor (not incorrect: dream to be).

    Similarhope, wish, long, yearn, aspire

  4. 4
    verbintransitive
    To see pictures and events in your mind while you are asleep.

    Like your mind playing little stories while you rest.

    I dream almost every night.

    She was dreaming when the alarm went off.

    UsagePast: dreamed or dreamt. Say I dreamed that I could fly.

    Note
  5. 5
    adjective
    Perfect in every way, just what someone wants.

    Like getting exactly what you always wished for.

    This house is my dream home.

    She finally landed her dream job.

    UsagePut it before a noun: my dream house.

    Similarideal, perfect, ultimate

    Note
  6. 6
    wonderful onenouncountable
    A person or thing that is wonderful, works perfectly or is very easy and pleasant to deal with.

    Our new babysitter is a dream, and the kids love her.

    My old bike was always breaking, but this one rides like a dream.

    UsageOften a dream to work with.

    Similardelight, joy, pleasure

    Oppositenightmare

  7. 7
    unrealistic plannouncountable
    A plan or idea that sounds nice but can never really work.

    Like a plan that sounds wonderful but can never really happen.

    His plan to get rich overnight was just a dream.

    Building a city on the moon sounded like a foolish dream.

    UsageOften an impossible dream.

    Similarfantasy, fancy, illusion, delusion, chimera

    Oppositereality

    Note
  8. 8
    mind wanderverbintransitive
    To let your mind wander to pleasant thoughts while awake.

    Like staring out the window and imagining you are somewhere else.

    Stop dreaming and finish your homework.

    In boring lessons I stare at the clock and dream about what I'll do after school.

    Similardaydream, fantasize, muse

    Oppositeconcentrate, focus

  9. 9
    considerverbintransitive
    To even think about doing something, or imagine something could happen, usually to say you never would or never did.

    Like something you would not even consider doing.

    I would never dream of lying to you.

    She wouldn't dream of leaving the dog alone.

    UsageUsually in wouldn't dream of doing something, or never dreamed (that) something would happen.

    Similarconsider, contemplate, think, imagine

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 10
    dazenouncountable
    A state of mind where you are so lost in your thoughts that you hardly notice what is going on.

    I was in such a dream that I missed my bus stop.

    After the good news, she walked around the house in a dream.

    UsageMostly in a dream.

    Similardaze, trance

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of dream apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Old English drēam, which meant "music, joy." The "dream" meaning may have come from Old Norse draumr. The root idea goes back to a Proto-Indo-European word meaning "to deceive."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts