daydream

1 of 2

noun

day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm How to pronounce daydream (audio)
: a pleasant visionary usually wishful creation of the imagination
daydreamlike adjective

daydream

2 of 2

verb

daydreamed; daydreaming; daydreams

intransitive verb

: to have a daydream
daydreamer noun

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
Previous reporting: With no winners for four months, the Powerball jackpot continues to grow along with the daydreams and hopes of players across the country. Jennie Key, The Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2024 The prospect of making the pilgrimage to many of the spots contained therein was far-fetched, but scrolling through the list lent a warmth to that drab afternoon, now filled with richly detailed daydreams about skinny-dipping at a five-star hotel in Gstaad. Adina Glickstein, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024 When the warm weather hits, so do daydreams of Aperol cocktails to sip throughout the spring and summer. Carly Westerfield, Bon Appétit, 2 Mar. 2024 Suffice to say that a romantic holiday in Santorini certainly lives up to all of our daydreams. Monica Mendal, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024 The 262-footer, which is part of Oceanco’s Simply Custom series, was inspired by the profound beauty of daydreams and features every amenity one could, well, dream of. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 The small shop is an urban intellectual’s daydream: there’s ample space for literary speaking events; a few chessboard tables; a secret nook that serves as a children’s section, a tasteful cocktail bar with affordable drinks; small-plate entrées on the horizon. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2024 Aries March 21 – April 19 Leaning into your fantasies and daydreams can be rewarding now. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024 The Adam Project star Walker Scobell takes over the role of Percy, a 12-year-old misfit grappling with dyslexia and ADHD who often daydreams of mythological creatures. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2023
Verb
Schedule idle time Instead of always trying to be productive, having the music on, scanning your phone for news and notifications, and engaging with someone or something, make time to allow your mind to daydream, to be in an unfocused space. Emma Seppälä, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024 Today, those daydreaming of a foothold in the same area where the Rat Pack flourished in the desert heat might find a new listing along the 13th fairway of the Tamarisk Country Club golf course a good place to start. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2024 The idea for Serafina came about when Assaf and his co-founder Fabio Granato were stranded at sea in a small boat and daydreamed about the perfect pizza. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024 Whether daydreaming, seductive or melancholic and fragile — each of her roles has a special aura surrounding it. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 Ah, spring—the perfect time to start daydreaming of warm-weather getaways and lining up all the happier, brighter nail colors to boost your post-winter mood. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024 Read the full Libra Daily Horoscope Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) Your heart is daydreaming about how to realize its aspirations. USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2024 Now with two seasons under its belt, The White Lotus is a black comedy with a murder problem — but not one severe enough to keep you from daydreaming about booking your own vacation. EW.com, 9 Nov. 2023 The freewheeling film drew inspiration from the works of Francois Truffaut and Charlie Chaplin, Debré told Variety, engaging in equal parts with poignant and absurdist subject matters while following a daydreaming lead who can’t be knocked down. Ben Croll, Variety, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'daydream.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1820, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of daydream was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near daydream

Cite this Entry

“Daydream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daydream. Accessed 1 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

daydream

1 of 2 noun
day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm How to pronounce daydream (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce daydream (audio)
: a visionary creation of the imagination experienced while awake
especially : a gratifying reverie usually of wish fulfillment
daydream intransitive verb
daydreamer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on daydream

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!