dream

verb

dreamed ˈdrem(p)t  ˈdrēmd  or dreamt ˈdrem(p)t  ; dreaming ˈdrē-miŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to have a series of thoughts, images, or emotions while sleeping : to have a dream (see dream entry 1 sense 1)

doesn't recall dreaming last night

dream of departed loved ones

2

: to indulge in daydreams or fantasies

dreaming of a better future

3

: to appear tranquil or dreamy (see dreamy sense 3a)

… houses dream in leafy shadows …

—Gladys Taber

transitive verb

1

: to have a dream of

dreamt that he was running in the woods

2

: to consider as a possibility : imagine

never dreamed I would become a teacher

3

: to pass (time) in reverie or inaction

dreaming the hours away

see also:

dream of

Did you know?

Not until the 13th century was our word dream used in the sense of “a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep.” The word itself is considerably older. In Old English dream means “joy,” “noise,” or “music.” Yet the change in meaning did not come from the development of a more specialized sense. Rather it appears that after many Scandinavian conflicts, conquests, and settlements in Britain the Old Norse draumr, meaning “a dream during sleep,” influenced the meaning of the etymologically related, English word. By the end of the 14th century the earlier meanings had been entirely replaced.

Synonyms of dream

• imagine
• envision
• see
• vision
• picture
• fantasy

Examples of dream in a Sentence

Did it really happen or did I just dream it?

He tends to dream big but he never really does the things he dreams of doing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Corgan was still dreaming of monster riffs in the vein of Jimmy Page balanced out with the goth sensibilities of bands like the Cure. —David Harris, SPIN, 2 June 2026

The realization that you're allowed to dream things and want things even if people don't see them for you. —Caroline Utz, The Spruce, 2 June 2026

In it was a trove of evidence — everything a prosecutor could dream of to file a commercial burglary case. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 2 June 2026

These consumers often access things others dream of like a beautiful home within a short walk of the Trevi Fountain pictured above. —Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing dream

• American dream
• bad dream
• dream away
• dream catcher
• dream come true
• dream of
• dream on
• dream team
• dream up
• dream vision
• like a dream
• never/not dream of
• pipe dream
• the American dream
• wet dream
• would never dream of
• wouldn't dream of it

Rhymes for dream

• beam
• bream
• cream
• creme
• deem
• gleam
• meme
• ream
• scheme
• scream
• seam
• seem

Kids Definition

dream

1 of 2 noun

ˈdrēm 

1

: a series of thoughts, pictures, or feelings occurring during sleep

2

: a vision created in the imagination : daydream

3

: something notable for its beauty or pleasing quality

4

: a goal that is longed for : ideal

dreamlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

dream

2 of 2 verb

ˈdrēm

dreamed ˈdrem(p)t  ˈdrēmd  or dreamt ˈdrem(p)t  ; dreaming ˈdrē-miŋ 

1

: to have a dream

dreamed about my dog

2

: to spend time having daydreams

3

: to think of as happening or possible : imagine

never dreamed I'd win

dreamer noun

Medical Definition

dream

1 of 2 noun

ˈdrēm 

often attributive

: a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep and especially during REM sleep compare daydream

dream

2 of 2 verb

ˈdrēm 

dreamed ˈdrem(p)t  ˈdrēmd  or dreamt ˈdrem(p)t  ; dreaming ˈdrē-miŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to have a dream

2

: to indulge in daydreams or fantasies

transitive verb

: to have a dream of

dreamer

ˈdrē-mər 

noun