dream
DREEM
Dream (noun) means a series of images, thoughts, or feelings experienced during sleep. Example: “The children talked over breakfast about the funny dreams they had during the night.”
noun
1
A series of images, thoughts, or feelings experienced during sleep.
"The children talked over breakfast about the funny dreams they had during the night."
"I had a strange dream about flying over the ocean."
"He woke up from a nightmare in a cold sweat."
2
A strong hope, ambition, or wish for the future.
"Winning a medal at the Olympics had been his dream since childhood."
"Many young people share the dream of owning a home one day."
"Her dream is to open her own bakery someday."
verb
1
To experience images and events in the mind while asleep.
"Dogs often twitch and whimper when they dream about chasing rabbits."
"Do you ever dream in colour, or is it always black and white?"
"I dreamed about my childhood home last night."
2
To hope or aspire to something.
"She always dreamed of becoming a pilot."
"As a boy he dreamed of sailing around the world."
"They dream of owning a small farm one day."
How to use dream
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the images your mind creates while asleep, or a strong hope for your future.
Common pairings
have a dream
live the dream
dream of
dream big
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Word forms
- Plural
- dreams
- Third person singular
- dreams
- Past tense
- dreamed, dreamt
Fill the gap
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The children talked over breakfast about the funny _____ they had during the night.
Etymology
From Old English drēam, originally meaning "joy" or "music," which merged with a related Old Norse word draumr meaning "dream" — the exact path from "joy" to "sleeping vision" is debated by scholars.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for dream
See all rhymes for dream →Frequently asked questions
What does “dream” mean?
The word “dream” means a series of images, thoughts, or feelings experienced during sleep. In plain terms, either the images your mind creates while asleep, or a strong hope for your future.
How do you pronounce “dream”?
“Dream” is pronounced DREEM (/ˈdɹiːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “dream” in a sentence?
Here is “dream” used in a sentence: “I had a strange dream about flying over the ocean.”
What part of speech is “dream”?
Depending on how it is used, “dream” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “dream” come from?
The word “dream” comes from Old English. From Old English drēam, originally meaning "joy" or "music," which merged with a related Old Norse word draumr meaning "dream" — the exact path from "joy" to "sleeping vision" is debated by scholars.
Is “dream” a common word?
“Dream” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “dream” have?
“Dream” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a series of images, thoughts, or feelings experienced during sleep.
What is the difference between a dream and a nightmare?
A dream is any sequence of images and feelings you experience while asleep, and can be pleasant, strange, or neutral. A nightmare is a particular kind of dream — a frightening or distressing one that often wakes you. Every nightmare is a dream, but only the upsetting ones earn that name.
What is the difference between a dream in sleep and a dream you hope for?
The word carries two senses. A sleeping dream is the imagery your mind produces at night, beyond your control. A dream in the sense of an ambition is a cherished hope or goal you pursue while awake, as in a 'dream job'. Context makes clear which meaning is intended.
Why do we dream?
Scientists are still not certain. Leading theories suggest dreaming helps the brain process memories and emotions, rehearse responses to threats, or simply make sense of random signals during sleep. Most vivid dreams happen during REM sleep. There is no single agreed explanation, but dreaming appears to serve the mind in several ways.
Can you control your dreams?
Sometimes. In a lucid dream, the sleeper becomes aware they are dreaming and can, to a degree, steer what happens. Some people train themselves to do this through memory cues and reality checks. For most of us, though, dreams unfold on their own, without any conscious say in where they go.
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