fantasize

verb

fan·​ta·​size ˈfan-tə-ˌsīz 

fantasized; fantasizing

intransitive verb

: to indulge in reverie : to create or develop imaginative and often fantastic views or ideas

… doing things I'd fantasized about in my sheltered childhood.

—Diane Arbus

transitive verb

: to portray in the mind : fancy

likes to fantasize herself as very wealthy

fantasizer

ˈfan-tə-ˌsī-zər 

noun

Synonyms of fantasize

• imagine
• envision
• see
• dream

Examples of fantasize in a Sentence

She fantasized that she had won a million dollars.

all those lottery players fantasizing themselves as living in extravagant luxury

Recent Examples on the Web

As the Grammy winner fantasizes about her boyfriend — played by Saturday Night Live‘s Ben Marshall — showing her off to his family over the holidays, Nixon portrays his mom. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2026

A lot of people have fantasized about a big tribute concert with lots of guest singers. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026

The accompanying music video, out now, finds Rodrigo cleaning up after a party at her boyfriend’s apartment (Ben Marshall) while fantasizing about meeting his family, which includes his mother, Nixon. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026

Underneath that façade was a sociopathic white supremacist neo-Nazi filled with hatred, fantasizing about mass murder nearly every day. — Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

fantasy entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for fantasize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Medical Definition

fantasize

verb

fan·​ta·​size

variants or British fantasise

ˈfant-ə-ˌsīz 

fantasized or British fantasised; fantasizing or British fantasising

intransitive verb

: to indulge in fantasy : create or develop imaginative and often fantastic views or ideas

fantasizes about running away from home

transitive verb

: to portray in the mind by fantasy

likes to fantasize herself as very famous