the American dream
noun phrase
variants
or the American Dream
: a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by working hard and becoming successful
With good jobs, a nice house, two children, and plenty of money, they believed they were living the American dream.
Examples of the American dream in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That means more scholarships, stronger women’s sports and more opportunities for every athlete — male and female — pursuing the American dream.
—
Riley Gaines Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
To many in the US, the keystone of the American dream is a house.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Anyone, in theory, can attain the American dream.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Thematically, the script serves as a stark metaphor for the erosion of the American dream and the financial nihilism felt across modern society.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the American dream
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Riley Gaines Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
To many in the US, the keystone of the American dream is a house.
—Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Anyone, in theory, can attain the American dream.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Thematically, the script serves as a stark metaphor for the erosion of the American dream and the financial nihilism felt across modern society.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the American dream
Cite this Entry
“The American dream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20American%20dream. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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