as in trance
the state of being lost in thought
if you're bored while traveling, daydreaming is a perfectly normal state to be in, regardless of what the road signs say
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as in dreaming
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Recent Examples of daydreaming
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025
This is a train ride for daydreaming, drawing, reading, playing cards, or any other low-tech pursuit.
—Alesandra Dubin, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025
Maladaptive daydreaming is a form of intense daydreaming characterized by the creation of unrealistic or fantastical situations, conversations, or stories in one’s own mind that are outside the realm of a person’s day-to-day life.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
Those daydreaming of taking in the sweeping sunrise vistas across Middle Harbour just got lucky because one of the most significant abodes on the street just surfaced on market for the first time in over four decades.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025
This is a train ride for daydreaming, drawing, reading, playing cards, or any other low-tech pursuit.
—Alesandra Dubin, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025
Maladaptive daydreaming is a form of intense daydreaming characterized by the creation of unrealistic or fantastical situations, conversations, or stories in one’s own mind that are outside the realm of a person’s day-to-day life.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daydreaming
Noun
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John whistles an old tune, a fragile attempt to break her trance.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
28 Aug. 2025
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But don’t be fooled by the red planet’s Venusian trance.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Your ultimate glow-up will consist of you embracing your magic, dreaming bigger and not being afraid to take risks.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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Photo of young thoughtful academic school boy touch cheek curiosity dreaming bored enjoy books sitting floor home background.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Dairy Some studies show a link between dairy consumption and a higher prostate cancer risk.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
7 Sep. 2025
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The National Natural Science Foundation of China, responsible for funding 32 studies cited in the rebuttal document, is directly overseen by the Chinese government and has its leadership appointed by the CCP.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In fact, the top feels like the wearable intersection between multiple dreamy Chloé dresses the singer has worn in recent memory.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
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But if Julia’s delivery of her first child is about as wonderful as pushing a human out of your body can get — even the lighting is dreamy — her second child’s delivery is the exact opposite.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After learning her daughter will not return to Chile, however, she is forced to stop fantasizing about others’ lives and find comfort in unexpected places.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
11 Mar. 2025
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For something completely different, some investors have been picking up value stocks rather than fantasizing about the possibilities of Silicon Valley’s dream world.—
John Navin,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Designers leaned into loose, chemise-style dresses that evoked a European countryside sensibility (cue the daydream of wandering through a field of lilacs).—
Jalil Johnson,
Refinery29,
13 Aug. 2025
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Ellen retreats to her room and daydreams of her father, who understood his headstrong daughter.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The video begins with Grint's pensive walk home from prison after serving time for stalking, and images of Sheeran flood his memory and sight.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Her pensive, probing Symphony in C-Sharp Minor had never been performed until the conductor Debora Waldman took it up and recorded it for Bru Zane.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, the Ulrich plan largely predicted it right, envisioning a district that would absorb all of California’s northern state line with Oregon, stretching to Nevada.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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However, Cora is encouraging his young star to start envisioning returning in the ALCS.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Daydreaming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daydreaming. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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