dreamt
C1formal and informal, primarily British
Definition
Meaning
past tense and past participle of 'dream': to experience thoughts, images, or emotions while sleeping.
The irregular form used primarily in British English and other Commonwealth varieties for the past/participle of 'dream'; in American English, 'dreamed' is more common.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Semantically identical to 'dreamed'. The choice between 'dreamt' and 'dreamed' is a matter of dialectal preference and register, with 'dreamt' often perceived as slightly more literary or formal in some contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
'Dreamt' is the standard past/past participle form in British English, alongside 'dreamed'. In American English, 'dreamed' is overwhelmingly dominant, though 'dreamt' is understood and occasionally used.
Connotations
In British English, 'dreamt' has no special connotation beyond being the standard form. In American English, its occasional use can sound slightly literary or British-influenced.
Frequency
In the British National Corpus, 'dreamt' is more frequent than 'dreamed'. In the Corpus of Contemporary American English, 'dreamed' is about 6 times more frequent than 'dreamt'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
S V (intransitive): She dreamt.S V O (transitive): He dreamt a strange dream.S V about O: I dreamt about flying.S V that-clause: They dreamt that they were rich.S V of V-ing: She dreamt of travelling.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dreamt up (invented, concocted)”
- “I never dreamt (I was very surprised)”
- “dreamt of (desired strongly)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in metaphorical contexts: 'He never dreamt the merger would succeed.'
Academic
Occasional in literary or psychological studies discussing sleep or cognition.
Everyday
Common in narrative speech in British English: 'I dreamt I forgot my exams.'
Technical
Used in sleep research or psychology, though the noun 'dreaming' is more frequent.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She dreamt of becoming an astronaut.
- I dreamt about you last night.
- They had dreamt of this moment for years.
American English
- She dreamed of becoming an astronaut. (Note: 'dreamt' is possible but less common)
- He dreamt a terrifying nightmare. (Literary/formal AmE)
adverb
British English
- Not applicable; 'dreamt' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable; 'dreamt' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- A dreamt-of opportunity finally arrived.
- The long-dreamt holiday was perfect.
American English
- A dreamed-of opportunity finally arrived.
- The long-dreamed holiday was perfect.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I dreamt about my friend.
- She dreamt last night.
- He dreamt that he could fly.
- Have you ever dreamt in colour?
- I never dreamt I would get the job.
- The scenario she had dreamt about became reality.
- The architect dreamt up a fantastical cityscape.
- They had long dreamt of emigrating, but circumstances prevented it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
'Dreamt' is one of the few common English verbs ending in '-mt'. Think: 'I dreamt and then I wept' (both irregular -t endings).
Conceptual Metaphor
DREAMING IS SEEING (I dreamt a vision); DREAMING IS TRAVELLING (I dreamt of Paris); DREAMING IS EXPERIENCING UNREALITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'dreary' (унылый).
- In Russian, 'dream' (verb) is often 'мечтать', which can also mean 'to aspire/hope'. 'Dreamt' as a past tense is strictly about sleep or imagination, not general hope.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dreamt' as present tense (incorrect: *I dreamt every night).
- Overusing 'dreamt' in American English contexts where 'dreamed' is expected.
- Spelling: *dreampt, *dremt.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'dreamt' in a primarily British English context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'dreamt' is the standard past tense and past participle of 'dream' in British English and is also used, though less commonly, in American English.
There is no difference in meaning. 'Dreamt' is preferred in British English, while 'dreamed' is dominant in American English. Both are grammatically correct.
Yes, especially in British English contexts. In American English, 'dreamed' might be more expected, but 'dreamt' is still acceptable, sometimes carrying a slightly literary tone.
It is pronounced /drɛmt/ (dremt), with the 'ea' sounding like the 'e' in 'dress' and a silent 'a'. The final 't' is pronounced.