fantasize
verb
fan·ta·size
ˈfan-tə-ˌsīz 
fantasized; fantasizing
: 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
Diane Arbus
: to portray in the mind : fancy
likes to fantasize herself as very wealthy
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
Ever since John Cena’s 2025 retirement tour was announced, fans have fantasized about the prospect of former rival Adam Copeland, known as Edge in WWE, returning to WWE to face him.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
In Virginia, voters chose Spanberger, a candidate who really struggled to condemn then-candidate for Attorney General Jay Jones, who fantasized about the murder of his Republican opponent and his children over text.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
As a girl, Smith had fantasized about being from a tribe of nomadic aliens or Native Americans.
—Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Even within the bowels of Amazon, a paragon of brutal efficiency, people flirt, fantasize, find camaraderie.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fantasize
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Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
In Virginia, voters chose Spanberger, a candidate who really struggled to condemn then-candidate for Attorney General Jay Jones, who fantasized about the murder of his Republican opponent and his children over text.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
As a girl, Smith had fantasized about being from a tribe of nomadic aliens or Native Americans.
—Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Even within the bowels of Amazon, a paragon of brutal efficiency, people flirt, fantasize, find camaraderie.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fantasize
Cite this Entry
“Fantasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fantasize. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
fantasize
verb
fan·ta·size
variants
or British fantasise
fantasized or British fantasised; fantasizing or British fantasising
: to portray in the mind by fantasy
likes to fantasize herself as very famous
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