pipe dream

noun

: an illusory or fantastic plan, hope, or story

Synonyms of pipe dream

• dream
• illusion
• daydream
• fantasy
• vision
• castle in the air
• castle in Spain

Examples of pipe dream in a Sentence

His plan for starting his own business was just a pipe dream.

opening our own restaurant has long been a pipe dream

Recent Examples on the Web

Getting losses down is of paramount importance to those clubs further down the pyramid, where Premier League riches are so far out of reach as to be a pipe dream. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

When a double sink is nothing short of a pipe dream, the best small bathroom vanities are the only solution to simulating en suite vibes in your powder room. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 13 Aug. 2026

Arendt then cited Wilhelm Marr’s Sieg des Judentums über das Germanentum (The Victory of Judaism over Teutonism, 1869), thus lining up all the antisemitic pipe dreams that came close to fulfillment. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

Forever is not just a pipe dream for the high school senior after winning the Jimmy Award. — Madeline Montgomery, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the fantasies brought about by the smoking of opium

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pipe dream

• academe
• cherubim
• elohim
• episteme
• seraphim
• abeam
• airstream
• bloodstream
• daydream
• downstream
• esteem
• extreme

Kids Definition

pipe dream

noun

: an unreal and fantastic idea, wish, or story