dream
Images in sleep, or a deeply held ambition.
Word facts
Definition
A dream is a series of images, thoughts, or feelings that occur during sleep. It also means a cherished ambition or goal you hope to achieve. As a verb, to dream means to experience dreams or to long for something.
Usage: In everyday use, a dream can mean a sleeping vision or a future goal. Aspiration and ambition carry a more formal tone for goals. Fantasy implies something unlikely to come true.
Example sentences
- 1
She had a vivid dream about flying over a mountain range.
- 2
His dream was to become a professional musician.
- 3
Dream big, but work hard to make those dreams real.
Word family
From Old English drēam ('joy, music, noise'). The sense of 'vision during sleep' developed in the 13th century. Old Norse draumr influenced the modern meaning.
Dream has the word 'ream' — a ream of paper has many pages, and a dream can feel like pages of images.
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FAQ
Questions people ask
Is dream a noun or a verb?
Both. 'I had a dream' (noun). 'I dream of travelling' (verb).
What does it mean to dream big?
To dream big means to set ambitious goals without letting fear of failure limit you.