# reverie

/ˈɹɛvɝi/ (US) · /ɹˈɛvəɹˌi/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reverie
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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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.