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
While the show promotes the upside of the American dream, many entrepreneurs face constant challenges to stay in business.
—
Jordyn Holman, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2024
For many people in the US, owning a home is the American dream.
—Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2024
In total, 69% of respondents indicate that the American dream is not a reality today, marking a 22 percentage point increase in skepticism.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
Redefining the American dream While a loose interpretation of the American dream is anyone can succeed if they are given the opportunity to do so, more traditional benchmarks are also associated with the phrase: home ownership, financial independence, running one’s own business, for example.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the American dream 
Jordyn Holman, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2024
For many people in the US, owning a home is the American dream.
—Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2024
In total, 69% of respondents indicate that the American dream is not a reality today, marking a 22 percentage point increase in skepticism.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
Redefining the American dream While a loose interpretation of the American dream is anyone can succeed if they are given the opportunity to do so, more traditional benchmarks are also associated with the phrase: home ownership, financial independence, running one’s own business, for example.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the American dream
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the American dream.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the American dream
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“The American dream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20American%20dream. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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