daydream

1 of 2

noun

day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm 

: a pleasant visionary usually wishful creation of the imagination

daydreamlike

ˈdā-ˌdrēm-ˌlīk 

adjective

daydream

2 of 2

verb

daydreamed; daydreaming; daydreams

intransitive verb

: to have a daydream

daydreamer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• chimera
• conceit
• delusion
• dream
• fancy
• fantasy
• phantasy
• figment
• hallucination
• illusion
• nonentity
• phantasm
• fantasm
• pipe dream
• unreality
• vision

Examples of daydream in a Sentence

Noun

I drifted off in a daydream during the class.

hoped that one day world peace would be a reality and not just a daydream

Verb

Instead of studying, he spent the afternoon daydreaming about his vacation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The vibe is at once sophisticated and irreverent—like an art collector’s home crossed with a Wes Anderson daydream. —Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025

Winners Visualize and Act Mindset without action is just a daydream. —Stephen Nalley, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2025

Verb

The drama unfolded after his southern patriarch character Timothy Ratliff daydreamed about shooting himself and his family in the midst of a financial scandal while wearing a Duke t-shirt. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2025

Owen’s too busy daydreaming about his childhood friend, Nora. —Laura Bradley, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1820, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for daydream

• abeam
• airstream
• bloodstream
• downstream
• esteem
• extreme
• grapheme
• hakim
• hornbeam
• lexeme
• mainstream
• midstream

Kids Definition

daydream

1 of 2 noun

day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm 

: a dreamy sequence of usually happy or pleasant imaginings

daydream

2 of 2 verb

: to have a daydream

daydreamer noun

Medical Definition

daydream

noun

day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm 

: a visionary creation of the imagination experienced while awake

especially : a gratifying reverie usually of wish fulfillment

daydream intransitive verb

daydreamer noun