daydream

1 of 2

noun

day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm 

: a pleasant visionary usually wishful creation of the imagination

daydreamlike

ˈdā-ˌdrēm-ˌlīk 

adjective

daydream

2 of 2

verb

daydreamed; daydreaming; daydreams

intransitive verb

: to have a daydream

daydreamer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• chimera
• conceit
• delusion
• dream
• fancy
• fantasy
• phantasy
• figment
• hallucination
• illusion
• nonentity
• phantasm
• fantasm
• pipe dream
• unreality
• vision

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

Come daydream with us to the kitchen of Julia Child, in the south of France... How American Tourism Began American tourism took the scenic route over the course of the twentieth century. —JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024

But no daydream holds a stronger allure for me than freely swimming in the gorgeous rivers that flow through my home of Washington, D.C. —Ana Little-Saña, Washington Post, 20 June 2024

Verb

Then Hughie, his mother and his father daydreamed about a family trip to Paris as Hugh passed. —Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 27 June 2024

Take hold of an opportunity instead of daydreaming about aspirations. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 23 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1820, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

daydream

1 of 2 noun

day·​dream ˈdā-ˌdrēm 

: 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 

: a visionary creation of the imagination experienced while awake

especially : a gratifying reverie usually of wish fulfillment

daydream intransitive verb

daydreamer noun