fantasize
verb
fan·ta·size
ˈfan-tə-ˌsīz 
fantasized; fantasizing
: to indulge in reverie : to create or develop imaginative and often fantastic views or ideas
doing things I'd fantasized about in my sheltered childhood—
Diane Arbus
Diane Arbus
: to portray in the mind : fancy
likes to fantasize herself as very wealthy
Synonyms
Examples of fantasize in a Sentence
She fantasized that she had won a million dollars.
all those lottery players fantasizing themselves as living in extravagant luxury
Recent Examples on the Web
Last year, Cincinnati Opera framed the work as the imaginative leap of a video-game-playing young man, to suggest that both the male lead and Puccini are white men fantasizing about Japan.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Back in 2021, Saturday Night Live aired an all-too-relatable skit about people fantasizing about their dream homes.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Kelly Stout, who used to literally fantasize about having more work to do, immersing yourself in self-maximization raises some questions of its own.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2024
If the United States was wrong to fantasize about an anti-Iranian coalition, Iran’s own alliance is showing strain.
—Gregg Carlstrom, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2024
Thomas Chatterton Williams: ‘Post-victimhood’ storytelling At Cass Tech High School, Jackson studied creative writing and devoured Soap Opera Digest in his free time, fantasizing about becoming a writer on one of his favorite shows.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2024
The character Bird fantasizes about selling food on the roadside to travellers.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2024
While some Dolphins fans have fantasized about Weaver bringing Madubuike with him, the Ravens’ Brent Urban is a more realistic option as a veteran who can provide quality snaps in limited action.
—Daniel Oyefusi, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2024
My friend Shon says that people tend to fantasize less when most of the major needs in their life are being met.
—Annie Lord, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2024
Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Back in 2021, Saturday Night Live aired an all-too-relatable skit about people fantasizing about their dream homes.
—Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Kelly Stout, who used to literally fantasize about having more work to do, immersing yourself in self-maximization raises some questions of its own.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2024
If the United States was wrong to fantasize about an anti-Iranian coalition, Iran’s own alliance is showing strain.
—Gregg Carlstrom, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2024
Thomas Chatterton Williams: ‘Post-victimhood’ storytelling At Cass Tech High School, Jackson studied creative writing and devoured Soap Opera Digest in his free time, fantasizing about becoming a writer on one of his favorite shows.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2024
The character Bird fantasizes about selling food on the roadside to travellers.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2024
While some Dolphins fans have fantasized about Weaver bringing Madubuike with him, the Ravens’ Brent Urban is a more realistic option as a veteran who can provide quality snaps in limited action.
—Daniel Oyefusi, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2024
My friend Shon says that people tend to fantasize less when most of the major needs in their life are being met.
—Annie Lord, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fantasize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1926, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Dictionary Entries Near fantasize
Cite this Entry
“Fantasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fantasize. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Medical Definition
fantasize
verb
fan·ta·size
variants
or British fantasise
fantasized or British fantasised; fantasizing or British fantasising
: to portray in the mind by fantasy
likes to fantasize herself as very famous
More from Merriam-Webster on fantasize
Nglish: Translation of fantasize for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of fantasize for Arabic Speakers
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