English Reference
Word noun

daydream

n.
US /ˈdeɪˌdɹim/ UK /dˈeɪdɹiːm/ day·dream UK spelling daydreamed, daydreaming, daydreams
Definition
  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    a dream-like series of thoughts you have while you are awake.

    a sequence of pleasant thoughts or fantasies experienced while awake, often as a form of escapism.

    Simple

    “He was lost in a daydream about winning the lottery and quitting his job.”

    In context

    “Her afternoon was spent in a pleasant daydream, imagining the quiet life she would lead once the busy semester finally concluded.”

    Usage

    Commonly used with the prepositions 'in' or 'about'.

    Synonyms
    fantasyreverie
Etymology

From day + dream. Compare West Frisian deidream (“daydream”), Dutch dagdroom (“daydream”), German Tagtraum (“daydream”), Swedish dagdröm (“daydream”), Icelandic dagdraumur (“daydream”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated