ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dream of

phrasal verb.
A2 Elementary Oxford
Definition

phrasal verb. to think about something you really want to happen in the future.

phrasal verb. to contemplate a desired future state or ambition; often used in the progressive aspect to indicate a persistent aspiration.

SIMPLE

I dream of living by the sea one day.

CONTEXTUAL

Many young athletes dream of winning an Olympic gold medal for their country.

COMPLEX

While working in the factory, he would often dream of escaping his mundane reality to pursue a career in the arts.

  • hope for
  • wish for
  • aspire to
  • long for
Particles
of
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
dream + of + object
Usage

usually followed by a noun or a verb ending in -ing.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'dream about', which usually refers to images seen while sleeping, whereas 'dream of' typically refers to conscious ambitions.

Pitfall

I dream of to become a doctor.I dream of becoming a doctor.the preposition 'of' must be followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.

Last updated April 24, 2026