reverie

noun

rev·​er·​ie ˈre-və-rē How to pronounce reverie (audio)
ˈrev-rē
variants or less commonly revery
plural reveries
1
2
: the condition of being lost in thought

Examples of reverie in a Sentence

I was lost in reverie and didn't realize my flight was boarding until it was almost too late.
Recent Examples on the Web What Buffett and all of his fans secretly know is that such escapist reveries are not merely an optional lark but a necessary tool for survival. Drew M. Dalton, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2023 Men always take the occasion of a woman’s sadness to launch into reveries. Karan Mahajan, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2023 The strings are lush and dreamlike, like being lulled into reverie. Hazlitt, 2 Aug. 2023 Several Eagles songs dwell in a state of melancholy reverie, with a wizened, worried sense that having been seduced by beauty, danger and a post-’60s ideal of freedom, the singer has frittered away time and romantic opportunities. Rob Tannenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2023 Sully’s old friends are still stumbling around in a reverie of fond memories and unhealed grief. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 18 July 2023 But while the dress's slinky fit and metallic finish fit within the mermaid-core aesthetic, Lipa's sandals are the stuff of above-water reveries. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 12 July 2023 Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga Whether the faceless humanoids that appeared at V&R were reveries or nightmares is up to the viewer. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 12 July 2023 Crook Manifesto has no granular reveries to soul food delicacies or ritual encounters with bookish black nationalists of the Elder Michaux variety. Lawrence Jackson, Harper's Magazine, 10 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reverie.' 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

French rêverie, from Middle French, delirium, from resver, rever to wander, be delirious

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reverie was in 1654

Dictionary Entries Near reverie

Cite this Entry

“Reverie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverie. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

reverie

noun
rev·​er·​ie
variants also revery
plural reveries
1
2
: the condition of being lost in thought

More from Merriam-Webster on reverie

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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