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

The video poignantly contrasts between a life with and without the threat of gun violence through a little girl’s daydream. —Kara Nesvig, Parents, 10 Mar. 2025

But true love isn’t built in daydreams—it’s built in real-time, with real people. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025

Verb

Who hasn’t idly daydreamed about taking a flamethrower to their neighbor’s 15-foot-tall plastic skeleton in their yard? —John Devore, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025

Who hasn’t daydreamed of quitting their jobs at one time or another? —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1820, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for daydream

• abeam
• airstream
• bloodstream
• downstream
• esteem
• extreme
• grapheme
• hakim
• hornbeam
• lexeme
• mainstream
• midstream

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