VocabDictionary

dream

/driหm/beginner Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.noun

A series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œI had a vivid dream about flying over the ocean last night.โ€
  • โ€œShe woke up in a sweat from a terrifying dream.โ€
2.noun

A cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œIt has always been her dream to become a professional violinist.โ€
  • โ€œHe is finally living his dream of traveling the world.โ€
3.verb

To experience dreams during sleep, or to contemplate a possibility with longing.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œI rarely dream, or at least I don't remember them when I wake up.โ€
  • โ€œShe dreamed of a day when she could start her own business.โ€
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โ€œdreamโ€.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from Middle English 'drem', which merged two distinct words: Old English 'drฤ“am' (meaning 'joy, mirth, music, or revelry') and Old Norse 'draumr' (meaning 'dream, vision'). Both trace back to the Proto-Germanic '*draumaz', which is cognate with Old Saxon 'drลm' and Old High German 'troum'. Over time, the Old Norse meaning of 'mental images during sleep' completely replaced the Old English sense of 'joyous noise'.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of a 'Dream' as a 'Drama' that plays in your 'Mind' while you sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions About โ€œdreamโ€

1. What is the meaning of โ€œdreamโ€ in English?

In English, dream (noun) is defined as: โ€œA series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep.โ€.

2. How do you use โ€œdreamโ€ in a sentence?

โ€œI had a vivid dream about flying over the ocean last night.โ€

3. What are English synonyms of โ€œdreamโ€?

Common synonyms include:aspiration,reverie,fantasy,vision,illusion

4. What is the etymology and word origin of โ€œdreamโ€?

Derived from Middle English 'drem', which merged two distinct words: Old English 'drฤ“am' (meaning 'joy, mirth, music, or revelry') and Old Norse 'draumr' (meaning 'dream, vision'). Both trace back to the Proto-Germanic '*draumaz', which is cognate with Old Saxon 'drลm' and Old High German 'troum'. Over time, the Old Norse meaning of 'mental images during sleep' completely replaced the Old English sense of 'joyous noise'.