# dreamer

/ˈdɹimɝ/ (US) · /dɹˈiːmɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dreamer
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. someone who dreams while sleeping

noun · CEFR B1

a person who has dreams during sleep.

For teachers: an individual who experiences a series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

- She is a heavy dreamer and often wakes up remembering every detail of her adventures.
- Research suggests that even those who claim never to remember their sleep cycles are active dreamers during the REM stage.

### 2. an idealistic person

noun · CEFR B1

someone who has big ideas or hopes for the future that other people think are not realistic.

For teachers: a person who lives in a world of fancy or imagination; an idealist whose goals are often perceived as impractical.

- He was always a dreamer, imagining he would one day travel to Mars.
- While critics dismissed him as a mere dreamer, his ambitious architectural plans eventually transformed the city skyline.

### 3. US immigration status

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a term for a young person who was brought to the United States as a child without legal papers.

For teachers: an undocumented immigrant in the United States who entered the country as a minor and meets the criteria of the DREAM Act.

- Many Dreamers have lived in the U.S. since they were toddlers and consider it their only home.
- The legislative debate focused on providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers who had successfully completed university degrees or military service.

Usage: Often capitalized as 'Dreamer' in this specific political and legal context.

## Examples

- He was always a dreamer who wanted to travel the world.
- While her colleagues focused on the daily budget, she was a dreamer who envisioned a global expansion for the small firm.
- The novel portrays the protagonist as a tragic dreamer, caught between the harsh realities of industrial life and his own vivid, unattainable aspirations for a better world.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.