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
She was sold the American dream with a farmworker visa.
—
ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
The vast majority of citizens no longer trust that hard work pays off and belief in the American dream has hit a record low.
—John Hope Bryant, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Payam Zamani’s story reads like the American dream—one that begins with his escape from religious persecution in Iran as a teenager and culminates, years later, with ringing the bell at NASDAQ.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Up until June this year Habryn was living what many would call the American dream.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the American dream
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
The vast majority of citizens no longer trust that hard work pays off and belief in the American dream has hit a record low.
—John Hope Bryant, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Payam Zamani’s story reads like the American dream—one that begins with his escape from religious persecution in Iran as a teenager and culminates, years later, with ringing the bell at NASDAQ.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Up until June this year Habryn was living what many would call the American dream.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 1 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share