dream
A1Neutral (used across all registers from informal to formal)
Definition
Meaning
A series of images, thoughts, and emotions that occur in the mind during sleep.
A cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal; a state of mind characterized by abstraction and imagination, detached from reality.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun, also a verb. The noun can refer to the sleep phenomenon, a daydream, or a life goal. The verb relates to experiencing dreams or fantasizing about future possibilities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling of past tense/participle is 'dreamt' (more common in UK) or 'dreamed' (more common in US).
Connotations
Identical. Both strongly positive for aspirational sense ('follow your dream'), neutral/negative for sleep phenomenon ('bad dream').
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
dream of/about (doing) somethingdream that + clausedream something upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Beyond your wildest dreams”
- “In your dreams!”
- “Dream on!”
- “Like a dream”
- “A dream come true”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in aspirational branding and goal-setting (e.g., 'the company's dream is to revolutionize the industry').
Academic
Used in psychology, neuroscience, and literary analysis (e.g., 'the study analysed dream content').
Everyday
Common for discussing sleep, hopes, and unrealistic ideas (e.g., 'I had a strange dream last night').
Technical
In computing, 'dream' is not a technical term but may appear in product names (e.g., Google DeepDream).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I dreamt I was flying over London.
- She dreams of studying at Oxford.
American English
- I dreamed I was playing in the Super Bowl.
- He dreams about becoming an astronaut.
adjective
British English
- They bought their dream home in the Cotswolds.
- She landed her dream job in publishing.
American English
- He finally bought his dream car, a Mustang.
- It was a dream vacation in Hawaii.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I had a good dream last night.
- Her dream is to be a teacher.
- I often dream about travelling the world.
- Winning the lottery is just a dream.
- He dreamt up a brilliant plan to solve the problem.
- The event went like a dream, without a single hitch.
- Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech is iconic.
- The philosopher mused on the line between dream and reality.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DRive your cAR with your Eyes closed – that's a dangerous DREAM.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FUTURE/GOAL IS A DREAM (e.g., 'chasing a dream', 'living the dream'); UNREALITY IS A DREAM (e.g., 'it was a dreamlike state').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'dream' (сон) for 'sleep' as a state. In Russian, 'мечта' is closer to 'dream' as an aspiration, while 'сон' is the sleep phenomenon. The verb 'dream' does NOT mean 'to sleep'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I was dreaming to become a pilot.' Correct: 'I was dreaming of becoming a pilot.'
- Incorrect: 'I dreamed for hours.' (ambiguous, could imply daydreaming). Correct: 'I slept/dreamt for hours.' or 'I daydreamed for hours.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common collocation meaning 'an unrealistic hope'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Often interchangeable for sleep dreams. For aspirations, 'dream of' is more common ('dream of becoming rich'). 'Dream about' can sound more literal or immediate.
Both are correct past tense and past participle forms. 'Dreamt' is more common in British English, 'dreamed' in American English.
Yes. As a noun, a 'bad dream' or 'nightmare' is negative. 'Pipe dream' implies an impractical fantasy. The phrase 'In your dreams!' is a sarcastic rebuttal.
It is most frequently used as a noun (e.g., 'a strange dream', 'my biggest dream'). Its use as a verb is also very common.