Word
reverie
Phoneticsrever·ie
US/ˈɹɛvɝi/
UK/ɹˈɛvəɹˌi/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a soft daydream where your thoughts drift away from what is happening around you. You are awake, but your mind wanders for a short time.
n. pleasant, unfocused musing with attention detached from immediate surroundings. Often involves a gentle flow of images or memories rather than directed thought.
Examples
“She sits by the window lost in reverie.”
“During the long train ride, he slips into a quiet reverie about summer holidays at his grandmother's house.”
“Her afternoon reverie wove together half-remembered conversations, distant music, and the soft light falling across the desk.”
Examples
simple
“She sits by the window lost in reverie.”
contextual
“During the long train ride, he slips into a quiet reverie about summer holidays at his grandmother's house.”
complex
“Her afternoon reverie wove together half-remembered conversations, distant music, and the soft light falling across the desk.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “reverie” in context.
Verb
01. break reverie
“A sudden knock on the door broke her reverie instantly.”
verb + noun
02. drift into reverie
“As the music played, she drifted into reverie.”
verb + prep + noun
03. emerge from reverie
“She emerged from reverie when her name was called twice.”
verb + prep + noun
04. fall into reverie
“During the lecture, he fell into reverie and missed the key point.”
verb + prep + noun
05. indulge in reverie
“On long train journeys, she liked to indulge in reverie.”
verb + prep + noun
06. interrupt reverie
“I did not want to interrupt his reverie, so I waited quietly.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. deep reverie
“She sat by the window in deep reverie, unaware the train had arrived.”
adj + noun
08. melancholy reverie
“She gazed at the rain in melancholy reverie, thinking of old friends.”
adj + noun
09. a moment of quiet reverie
“He allowed himself a moment of quiet reverie before answering.”
10. drift into nostalgic reverie
“Old songs always make her drift into nostalgic reverie.”
11. fall into deep reverie
“She would often fall into deep reverie while listening to classical music.”
12. lost in quiet reverie
“The boy sat lost in quiet reverie, watching clouds drift overhead.”
Real-World Examples
“It’s easy to get lost in reverie, contemplating the stark landscape.” “Kore-eda shows us the heartbreak that this leads to, and to an agonising “sliding doors” type reverie about how things could have been different, how Fujino could have redeemed herself as the lesser artist.” “The end of the row breaks my reverie.” “But the reverie crumbles when the lad announces he intends to go to Cremona in Italy to train as a violin-maker.” Etymology
From French rêverie.
From Middle French reverie (“revelry, drunkenness”), from Old French resverie, from resver (“to dream, to rave”), of uncertain origin. Compare rave.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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