the American dream
noun phrase
variants
or the American Dream
: a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by working hard and becoming successful
With good jobs, a nice house, two children, and plenty of money, they believed they were living the American dream.
Examples of the American dream in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite a mountain of obstacles in their way, aspiring homeowners are undeterred in their pursuit of the American dream.
—
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Her desires elegantly clash with those of everyone around her thanks to the excellent work of the ensemble cast, who each embody a character chasing a different segment of the American dream.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
The Brutalist follows Brody’s László, a successful Hungarian architect who flees to the U.S., clinging to the American dream.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
Read: The filmmaker who wants to wake us from the American dream
Some might see the event’s duration as a problem.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the American dream
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Her desires elegantly clash with those of everyone around her thanks to the excellent work of the ensemble cast, who each embody a character chasing a different segment of the American dream.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
The Brutalist follows Brody’s László, a successful Hungarian architect who flees to the U.S., clinging to the American dream.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
Read: The filmmaker who wants to wake us from the American dream
Some might see the event’s duration as a problem.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the American dream
Cite this Entry
“The American dream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20American%20dream. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share