What does dream mean?
A dream is a sequence of images, emotions, and sensations that occurs involuntarily in the mind during sleep, most vividly during REM sleep. Beyond its literal sense, 'dream' carries one of English's most resonant figurative meanings: a deeply cherished aspiration or ideal, as in 'the American Dream' or Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech. As a verb, it describes both the act of dreaming while asleep and the act of imagining or longing for something. The word is flexible in register, appearing equally in scientific discussions of sleep, casual conversation, and elevated rhetoric. Its past tense comes in two accepted forms — 'dreamed' and 'dreamt' — with regional preferences differing between American and British English. Related derivatives include 'dreamer', 'dreamy', and 'dreamlike'. Whether describing nocturnal visions or life ambitions, 'dream' remains one of the language's most evocative and frequently used words.
A sequence of images, thoughts, and sensations experienced in the mind during sleep.
"Last night I had a strange dream about flying over mountains."
A cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.
"Her dream was to open her own restaurant."
To experience dreams while sleeping, or to imagine and aspire to something.
"He often dreams of travelling the world."
Standard plural form, used for both literal sleep experiences and figurative aspirations.
"The book explores the dreams and fears of ordinary people."
The word 'dream' once meant 'music' or 'joy' in Old English — its modern meaning of sleep visions only took hold centuries later, likely under Norse influence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dream
The word 'dream' derives from the Old English 'drēam', which originally meant 'joy', 'merriment', or 'music' — not the sleep experience at all. The modern meaning of a vision experienced during sleep developed later, likely influenced by the Old Norse 'draumr', which carried that sense. This makes 'dream' an interesting case of semantic shift within English itself, where the older native sense was gradually displaced. Cognates appear across Germanic languages, including German 'Traum' and Dutch 'droom', all tracing back to a common Proto-Germanic root.
Related word forms
How dream is actually used
'Dream' is neutral-to-positive in connotation when referring to aspirations, but can be negative when paired with 'nightmare' or used dismissively. The past tense varies by region: 'dreamed' is more common in American English, while 'dreamt' appears more frequently in British English. Both are fully standard.
Easily confused with dream
'Dreamt' is the past tense or past participle of 'dream', not a separate word.