daydream

1 of 2

noun

day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm How to pronounce daydream (audio)
Synonyms of daydreamnext
: 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
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Noun
More than masturbatory daydreams, Vladimir inspires our heroine to write with abandon, ignoring professional and personal obligations in service to her muse. Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026 Below, some of the finest, high-quality ruffled bedding around the web for creating the frothy bedscape of your daydreams. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
The conquest of Mars and the achievement of the singularity are, like the nationalism resurgent across the globe, daydreams that offer a taste of that old comfort. Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026 Those daydreaming of moving into one of his impossibly sleek creations just got lucky. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for daydream

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of daydream was in 1651

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Daydream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daydream. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

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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