pipe dream

noun

: an illusory or fantastic plan, hope, or story

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 While Nasreen certainly does deserve to reclaim her true self, the notion that no one will get hurt in the process is a bit of a pipe dream. Lauren Wissot, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2024 But for many, that’s a pipe dream, and as the season goes along, the realization sets in that the A’s will be gone for good as far as Oakland is concerned. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 June 2024 Strong relationships may seem like a pipe dream for some people dealing with mental health obstacles. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2024 But if Harris is taking notes from Walz’s approach in Minnesota, that hope might be little more than a pipe dream. Rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pipe dream 

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

Word History

Etymology

from the fantasies brought about by the smoking of opium

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pipe dream was in 1890

Dictionary Entries Near pipe dream

Cite this Entry

“Pipe dream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pipe%20dream. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

pipe dream

noun
: an unreal and fantastic idea, wish, or story
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!