daydream

1 of 2

noun

day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm How to pronounce daydream (audio)
: a pleasant visionary usually wishful creation of the imagination
daydreamlike adjective

daydream

2 of 2

verb

daydreamed; daydreaming; daydreams

intransitive verb

: to have a daydream
daydreamer noun

Examples of daydream in a Sentence

Noun I drifted off in a daydream during the class. hoped that one day world peace would be a reality and not just a daydream Verb Instead of studying, he spent the afternoon daydreaming about his vacation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The 262-footer, which is part of Oceanco’s Simply Custom series, was inspired by the profound beauty of daydreams and features every amenity one could, well, dream of. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 The small shop is an urban intellectual’s daydream: there’s ample space for literary speaking events; a few chessboard tables; a secret nook that serves as a children’s section, a tasteful cocktail bar with affordable drinks; small-plate entrées on the horizon. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2024 Aries March 21 – April 19 Leaning into your fantasies and daydreams can be rewarding now. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024 The Adam Project star Walker Scobell takes over the role of Percy, a 12-year-old misfit grappling with dyslexia and ADHD who often daydreams of mythological creatures. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2023 On her first three albums, love is mostly a daydream. Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2024 Living in a vibrant pixel daydream of ‘90s Indonesia, protagonist Atma must prevent his vengeful and magical girlfriend Raya from turning his town into a hell pit. Vulture, 2 Feb. 2024 Even to daydream felt like setting myself up on a dangerous pedestal of disappointment. Vanessa Chan, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2024 Buy from Que Edition: Edition Candle $80 | Smell and nostalgia are closely linked, so give the gift of a vacation memory (or a daydream about a future one) with Edition Hotels’ signature black tea scent. Amanda Finnegan, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2023
Verb
Ah, spring—the perfect time to start daydreaming of warm-weather getaways and lining up all the happier, brighter nail colors to boost your post-winter mood. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024 Read the full Libra Daily Horoscope Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) Your heart is daydreaming about how to realize its aspirations. USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2024 Now with two seasons under its belt, The White Lotus is a black comedy with a murder problem — but not one severe enough to keep you from daydreaming about booking your own vacation. EW.com, 9 Nov. 2023 The freewheeling film drew inspiration from the works of Francois Truffaut and Charlie Chaplin, Debré told Variety, engaging in equal parts with poignant and absurdist subject matters while following a daydreaming lead who can’t be knocked down. Ben Croll, Variety, 18 Jan. 2024 Survivor: Panama — Exile Island Ah, just writing the word Panama gets me daydreaming about Survivor Sally and her intoxicating knee socks. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2023 Whisnant often daydreamed about opening a business to have a steady job in the winter while creating a sense of community. Jennifer Prince, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2024 The patterns of neurons fired while the mice were daydreaming looked incredibly similar to the distinct patterns fired when each image was originally shown. Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 13 Dec. 2023 Locals might be fed up up with high prices, but there are still plenty of people daydreaming about living here. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'daydream.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1820, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of daydream was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near daydream

Cite this Entry

“Daydream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daydream. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

daydream

1 of 2 noun
day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm How to pronounce daydream (audio)
: a dreamy sequence of usually happy or pleasant imaginings

daydream

2 of 2 verb
: to have a daydream
daydreamer noun

Medical Definition

daydream

noun
day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm How to pronounce daydream (audio)
: a visionary creation of the imagination experienced while awake
especially : a gratifying reverie usually of wish fulfillment
daydream intransitive verb
daydreamer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on daydream

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