# dreaming

/ˈdɹimɪŋ/ (US) · /dɹˈiːmɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dreaming
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the act of having dreams

noun · CEFR A2

the experience of seeing images or stories in your mind while you are asleep.

For teachers: the physiological and psychological state of experiencing dreams during sleep.

- He woke up suddenly and realized his dreaming had been very vivid.
- Scientific studies suggest that dreaming occurs primarily during the REM stage of the sleep cycle, though its exact biological purpose remains debated.

### 2. daydreaming or hoping

noun · CEFR B1

thinking about your goals or imagining a better future while you are awake.

For teachers: the act of indulging in fantasies, aspirations, or imaginative thoughts while awake.

- Stop your dreaming and focus on the work you need to finish.
- Her constant dreaming about a career in music eventually motivated her to apply for the conservatory despite her parents' initial objections.

### 3. Indigenous Australian spirituality

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the spiritual beliefs of Indigenous Australians about how the world was created.

For teachers: the central spiritual and cosmological belief system of Indigenous Australians, involving the creation of the world by ancestral beings.

- The guide explained how the Dreaming is connected to the local landscape.
- The Dreaming encompasses a complex system of law, social structures, and environmental knowledge passed down through oral traditions for millennia.

Usage: Usually capitalized as 'the Dreaming'.

Teaching tip: This is a specific cultural term; learners should use it with respect and capitalize it to distinguish it from ordinary sleep.

## Examples

- Daytime dreaming helps me come up with new ideas.
- Scientists believe that dreaming plays a vital role in how our brains process memories and emotions from the day.
- The novel explores the thin line between lucid dreaming and reality, questioning whether the protagonist's nocturnal visions are more authentic than his waking life.

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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.